Florida Freshwater Fishing Forecast for August 16-23, 2026

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

The Greater the Daily Oxygen Production, the Greater the Fishing will be.

The Florida Freshwater Fishing Forecast for Aug. 16-19, 2026, gives anglers a weak first quarter moon phase and after today, ideal weather conditions to catch fish. All fishing factors considered, anglers out on the water today will have less than ideal wind speeds but bright sunshine will force fish to remain tight to oxygen producing cover.

Monday through Friday an ideal west wind will provide much needed cooling for anglers who fish during the overhead major period during the afternoon and early evening hrs. Bright sunshine is predicted for the next three days and normal thunderstorm activity is in the forecast for the second half of the week, which will necessitate that anglers have a lightning escape plan ready if they choose to fish the major feeding period of the day.

The moon will arrive at the low position in five days, which means the daily lunar effect will not be much of a factor in the formation of daily feeding efforts. Therefore, fish will be mainly influenced by daily oxygen production with minor influence from the overhead moon during the afternoon and early evening hrs.

So, the greater the oxygen production the greater the fishing will be. And there’s a flip side of this rainy season fishing truth, the more the angler is miserable due to the high heat, humidity and bright sunshine, the more active the fish are and conversely, the more comfortable the angler is the less bites occur. Cloudy overcast high wind days with consistent rainfall and thunderstorms almost always shuts down feeding activity due to the rapid decline in oxygen rates.

During the months of August and September if fish can’t find depths of sixteen feet or deeper which has healthy thriving vegetation, a stressed state occurs within the fish, which completely shuts off digestion and feeding, resulting in a loss in weight.

The best fishing days of the next eight weeks will occur when the lunar influence is at a monthly high rate and bright sunshine occurs with little to no cloud cover, rainfall, and thunderstorm activity. So, we hope that the first twelve days and the last seven days of September does not have much if any tropical weather. The remainder of this month will not have any more high lunar influence days---the full moon phase will produce a 5-rating at best and I’m betting there will be a tropical occurrence when it occurs.

So, fishing deeper lakes with less turbid water is the best fishing strategy until water temperatures decline into the ideal feeding temperature range of 70-82 degrees, which usually doesn’t occur until late October early November.

Major Solar-Lunar Period: Today the moon is overhead t 4:41 p.m. producing a 6-7 feed rating from 3-6:30 p.m. Daily the overhead moon occurs later by an average of 45 min. and remains at the same feed rating until next weekend when it begins to gradually diminish to a 4-rating by Sunday evening.

Minor Solar Lunar Periods: Today the moonrise occurs at 10:48 a.m. producing a 5-feed rating from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Daily the moonrise occurs later by an average of 58 min and gradually improves to a 6-feed rating during the second half of the week---becomes major period.

A second minor period happens today when the moon is underfoot at 4:19 a.m. producing a 4-feed rating from 3-5:30 a.m. Daily the underfoot moon occurs later by an average of 45 min and remains at the same feed rating until the second half of the week when it will gradually improve to a 5-feed rating by next weekend.

A third minor period happens today when the moonset occurs at 10:25 p.m. producing a 4-feed rating from 9:30-11:45 p.m. Daily the moonset occurs later by an average of 35 min and gradually diminishes to a 2-3 rating by the midweek and will remain at the same rating through the second half of the week.

Best Fishing Days: Today through Friday the overhead moon occurs during the highest oxygen rating of the day—afternoon to early evening hrs.--and will therefore produce the best fishing during those periods. Also, an ideal west wind is forecasted to produce 10 mph speeds during the major feeding period Monday through Friday.

Anglers can expect the consistent west wind to cause fish to move eastward as they follow the wind-drive food chain. And wave action will definitely help mask the angler’s presence and the ‘fakeness’ of artificial baits.

Bright sunshine is forecasted today through Tuesday which will cause fish to hold tight to protective vegetation cover, which will have a high level of dissolved oxygen as well.

Lake Istokpoga S68 Spillway and Lake Level Status: Lake level average is currently at 37.12 NAVD88 with four S68 spillway gates closed. The NAVD88 Offset to NGVD29 is + 1.16 feet = 38.28NGVD29. Current maximum high level is 38.25’ NGVD29 and the low level is 37.50’ NVGD29.

Prime Monthly Periods: August 25-30 weak full moon phase, Sept. 6-12 new moon phase, 23-29 full moon phase., October 7-13 weak new moon phase, 23-28 full moon phase. Note: September and October’s last quarter moon phases occur during the lunar high and orbit perigee and will produce a 7-8 feed rating during the sunrise and sunset periods.

Dave Douglass has been an artificial bait only bass fishing guide since 2005, and the 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 email DavidPDouglass@hotmail.com or phone 863-381-8474.