Do Fish Bite in the Afternoon? How to Get Fish in the Afternoon

If you’re a new angler, you might want to know when is the best time of the day to catch fish. With so many different experiences, it can be difficult to pinpoint a specific time, but most experts agree that it’s around the afternoon or the middle of the day.

So, do fish bite in the afternoon? Fish do bite in the afternoon. The afternoon is one of the best times to catch fish as the water temperature will be ideal for the fish to feed. In addition, the sunlight in the afternoon hours will make the baits more visible to the fish, which increases the chances of biting.

Keep reading to learn more about what fish to target in the afternoon and where to target them.

Do Fish Bite in the Afternoon?

It’s common knowledge that the best time for fish to bite is in the early morning or late evening. Some people think that fish just don’t bite in the afternoon, as if Fish nap or something after their exhausting morning.

The truth is that many anglers prefer to fish in the afternoon as it’s one of the best times to go fishing if you don’t take the scorching hot sun into account, of course.

To put it simply, fish bite in the afternoon as the water temperature will be ideal for them to feed. Afternoon hours also offer the fish plenty of sunshine that makes certain baits more visible to the fish, which will attract them to bite more.

Do Fish Go Deep in the Afternoon? 

You need to know all of the factors of fishing in the Afternoon, and that includes how fish behave at that time. Fish can’t tolerate changes in temperature, and they change their location based on the temperature they’re most comfortable in.

Most of the time, fish will move into deeper areas of the water in the afternoon because they avoid the extreme heat and bright sunlight at that time. The oxygen content in the water will also be reduced, so the fish won’t be as active.

However, there are still some fish who feel comfortable being in shallow water in the afternoon despite the high temperature. It all depends on the kind of fish you’re targeting.

What Fish to Target in the Afternoon?

Some of the fish species you can target in the afternoon are Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Catfish, Trout, Panfish, and Gar. The water temperature would be ideal for these fish to feed during afternoon hours, so they will be actively biting on your bait in the afternoon.

However, keep in mind that you can catch many other fish species in the afternoon as long as you’re using the right bait at the right spot.

How to Make Fish Bite in the Afternoon?

Choosing the right bait and the right spot is your key to catching any kind of fish. So, let’s take a close look at the baits you can use when targeting fish in the afternoon and where you can target them.

What Bait to Use When Targeting Fish in the Afternoon?

There are various baits you can use when targeting fish in the afternoon or any other time. Choosing the bait will depend mostly depend on the fish you’re targeting.

So, let’s take a look at the baits you can use when targeting different fish in the afternoon:

Fish	Bait
Crappie	Insects, worms, and minnows
Catfish	Cut baits such as chicken liver and bluegill
Trout	Dead bait
Bass	Live baits such as shiners, shad, etc.
Panfish	Live baits such as minnows, worms, crayfish, etc.
Bluegill	Worms and nightcrawlers

Where to Target Fish in the Afternoon?

The next step after choosing the bait is choosing the spot to target the fish. Not every area of the water will have active fish in the afternoon; it mostly depends on the time of the year and the kind of fish you’re targeting.

Since most fish cannot tolerate the heat in the afternoon hours, they will move to deep areas of the water to get away from direct sunlight. 

So, you can find them under docks, walls, outside bends, rocks, dams and waterfalls, overhanging trees and bushes, and even undercut banks. All of those are the perfect hiding spots for the fish to get away from the extreme heat.

Related Questions 

What Time of the Day do Fish Bite the Most?

Fish bite most in the Early morning from 6:00 a.m. to 9 a.m. They might also bite in the late morning, afternoon, and dusk. The time of day fish bite the most depends mostly on the temperature of the water, the location where you’re targeting the fish, and the kind of fish you’re targeting.

Are Fish More Active in the Morning or Afternoon?

Fish are active more in the early morning than they are in the afternoon. However, that doesn’t mean they won’t bite in the afternoon, as you can always catch fish using the right bait at the right spot regardless of the time. The time at which fish are more active depends on the temperature.

Are Fish More Active in High or Low Pressure? 

Fish are more active in low pressure than they’re in high pressure because it makes them hungrier. Different pressures in the water offer different fishing conditions, and each has its own benefits and drawback. It will mainly depend on the fish you’re targeting and the spot you’re fishing in.

What Is the Worst Time to Go Fishing? 

The worst time to go fishing is usually midday or late evening. It depends on the season; you can’t go in winter at night as the water will be too cold for the fish to bite. You also can’t go in summer at midday as the weather will be too hot, and the fish won’t be active.

Do Fish Bite at Night?

Fish do bite at night. Some fish have excellent eyesight, so they will be able to see the bait at night and bite on it. However, you need to make sure you’re using the right kind of bait for the fish you’re targeting and that you’re fishing in the right spot.

Helpful Resources

How Water Temperature Affects Fishing

If you like this article, please share it or pin it, you can find the share buttons below. We will really appreciate it ❤️