Florida Freshwater Fishing Forecast for February 23-March 2, 2025

Sunday's Complete Comprehensive Fishing Article for Florida's Freshwater Anglers

Strong Moon and Weather Changes Produce Good Fishing

The Florida Freshwater Fishing Forecast for the week of March 2-9, 2025, gives anglers the end of the new moon phase and the transition to the first quarter moon phase during the second half of the week. And the weather forecast predicts late winter conditions which will cause plenty of fish adjustment activity due to daily weather changes.

Anglers will have a strengthening moon and ideal weather conditions working in their favor this week. Fish will be actively adjusting every day to constantly changing wind and pressure along with an even mix of sun and clouds caused by two minor cold fronts three days apart which will quickly pass through the state.

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Solar-Lunar Factor: Solar noon occurs at 12:38 p.m. today but will decline to 12:36 p.m. over the next ten days. Solar noon will continue to decline until it begins to advance again on May 15 when it arrives at 22 minutes and 26 seconds.

Today is the last day of the new moon phase. Yesterday the lunar orbit perigee (full solar energy blocking position) occurred and in five days the moon will arrive at the high position within the solar energy path to earth—full interference position.

Note: In May and June, the new moon will occur along with the high and perigee within the same three-day period. Both periods will produce a better feed rating than the super new moons this month and in April—both months the lunar high occurs five days later. Fish Adjustment Activity levels will be exceptionally high in all four months’ new moon phases, causing a rare ten plus feed rating in May and June which only occurs about every four to six years.

Weather Factors: Bright sunshine will prevail every day but Wednesday and next Sunday. And wind speeds will be ideal every day but Wednesday’s twenty mph south wind, and next Sunday’s seventeen mph west wind. And wind speeds will be well below the ideal speed range of eight to twelve mph on Friday when a weak south wind occurs.

Tuesday and Saturday will be pre-front days and barometric pressure will drop both days about 0.20 in hg so expect fish to be moving downward both days. Wednesday and Thursday a fairly strong high-pressure system will drop temperatures twenty degree as pressure rebounds 0.25 in hg which will cause fish to move upward into the shallows and into rapidly falling water temperatures which will shut down feeding activity.

It should be noted that after next Sunday’s high-pressure system enters the state temperatures will not fall as pressure rebounds—weather forecasts predict a ten degree fall or less.

Solunar - Weather Influence Variable: Today fish will still be feeding at above average rates due to the recent new moon influence. And during the development of the first quarter moon which occurs Thursday, one day before the lunar high, and normally, fish would be feeding at above average rates during the sunset and sunrise periods when the overhead and underfoot moons occur respectively. However, the afore mentioned cold front will spoil the strong first quarter moon influence and fish will instead feed heavily during the pre-front conditions Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning.

Major Solar-Lunar Period: Today the moon is overhead at 2:58 p.m. producing a feed rating of five to six from 1:30-4:30 p.m. Daily the overhead moon occurs later by fifty minutes and remains at the same feed rating until it begins to occur after the sunset next weekend, producing a feed rating of three to four.

Minor Solar Lunar Periods: Today the moonrise occurs at 8:26 a.m. producing a feed rating of four from 7-9:30 a.m. Daily the moonrise occurs later by thirty-seven minutes and remains at the same feed rating until Thursday through next weekend when a rating of five or slightly better occur in the late morning to early afternoon hours.

A second minor period happens when the moon is underfoot today at 2:32 a.m. producing a three-feed rating. Daily the underfoot moon occurs later by fifty-three minutes and remains at the same feed rating but begins to improve as it occurs during the sunrise period on Thursday. A feed rating of five will occur during the early morning hours Friday through next Sunday.

Today a third minor period happens when the moonset occurs at 9:36 p.m. producing a feed rating of three from 8:30-10:30 p.m. Daily the moonset occurs later by one hour and remains at the same feed rating.

Best Fishing Days: Tuesday through Wednesday midday and again Saturday through next Sunday morning pre-front conditions and warmer water temperatures will cause fish to feed well above forecasted feed rates for extended periods.

Prime Monthly Periods: March 13-15 weak full moon, March 27 – April 1 strong super new moon, 10-14 weak full moon, 24-30 strong super new moon, May10-14 weak full moon, 23-29 very strong new moon, June 9-12 weak full moon, 22-28 exceptionally strong new moon.

Lake Istokpoga S68 Spillway and Lake Level Status: Lake level is currently at 38.29 NAVD88 with one of four S68 spillway gates open sixteen inches flowing 270 cfs. The NAVD88 Offset to NGVD29 + 1.15 feet = 39.44NGVD29. The current seasonal schedule maximum level is 39.50 NGVD29 and the minimum level is 38.40’ NGVD29. Today the lake is about two inches below the maximum level. Links to the USACE and SFWM websites are provided at HighlandsBassAngler.com.

Dave Douglass has been an artificial bait only bass fishing guide since 2005, and writer of the Highlands News-Sun fishing forecast article since Oct. 2016 and previously the writer of the Highlands Today fishing forecast article which began in Nov. 2005. Contact him by email at DavidPDouglass@hotmail.com or by phone at 863-381-8474; please leave a message for a return call.