Weather-based grades are not available for these dates. Lunar indicators describe moon phase and feeding-period timing.
Choose a location to get local times and weather-based grades where available. Select a date for its timing details.
Planning for December
December splits the country in two. The northern tier is into first ice, which brings some of the most reliable fishing of the winter before the deep cold sets in, while southern waters fish like a slow late autumn with a good bite available on any mild afternoon. Either way, the days are short and the feeding windows are narrow, so timing matters more than water covered.
Winter tactics and species
Winter fishing requires patience and slower presentations. Fish deeper water and target sunny afternoons when water warms slightly. Focus on major feeding periods as fish conserve energy.
Lunar indicators describe moon phase and feeding-period timing, not fishing conditions. Weather and water temperature are not included. National timing uses a Central US reference.
Get the full A+ to F grade for your water at bestdaystofish.com
Moon Phase Calendar
🌑New Moon
December 8
Top moon-phase score in our rating
🌕Full Moon
December 23
Top moon-phase score in our rating
Major & Minor Feeding Periods
Major Periods (about 2 hours)
Centered on the moon passing overhead or underfoot. Solunar theory treats these as the strongest feeding windows of the day; our full forecast uses them to shape the best hours.
Minor Periods (about 1 hour)
Centered on moonrise and moonset. Solunar theory's secondary feeding windows.
Best Fishing Days in December 2026
The strongest lunar dates in December 2026 are December 23, December 24, December 9, December 8, December 10, ranked by solunar activity, moon phase, and the strength of each day's major and minor feeding periods. Those are the factors a national calendar can actually know. Water temperature moves a fishing grade far more than the moon does, and it depends entirely on where you fish, so enter your location for a full grade that adds water temperature, weather, and barometric pressure.
December splits the country in two. The northern tier is into first ice, which brings some of the most reliable fishing of the winter before the deep cold sets in, while southern waters fish like a slow late autumn with a good bite available on any mild afternoon. Either way, the days are short and the feeding windows are narrow, so timing matters more than water covered.
Want it on the boat or the fridge? This page doubles as a free printable fishing calendar for December 2026. Use the Print or Save as PDF button at the top and your browser produces a clean one-page PDF of the whole month, grades and moon phases included.
What the Fish Are Doing in December
Pre-spawn (2 species)
Black Drum, Rockfish feed hard before spawning in December. Select one of them for your location and its forecast adds up to 9 points while the water says it is staging. Look for black drum on channel edges, deep bay holes and the surf 6-20 ft, schooled.
Spawning (3 species)
Coho Salmon, Lingcod, Pacific Halibut spawn during December. Fish on beds are harder to tempt, so a forecast for one of these species lowers the grade while the water says the fish are spawning. Target pre-spawn and post-spawn species instead, or fish deeper staging areas nearby.
Fall feeding (2 species)
Barred Surfperch, Sheepshead feed aggressively through December ahead of winter. Select one of them for your location and its forecast adds up to 8 points while the water says it is in its fall feed. Cooling water and baitfish movement make this some of the year's best fishing.