I’ve heard stuff about don’t fish when the winds are this way or that but I haven’t paid much attention to the winds as long as they aren’t blustering winds. Does the wind direction really matter in the Charleston area? If so, why do you think they affect the fishing for good or bad?
How the wind direction impacts fish probably has more to do with approaching/passing fronts and varying barometric pressures than the actual direction of the wind itself. Now I have found that wind can keep fish more active than slick calm conditions. Wind keeps the water churned up, plankton and other microscopic edibles are being churned around so the bait fish stay active feeding on them and the predator fish stay after the bait.
Now be prepared for some to chime in here and tell you none of that (water temp/direction, barometric pressure, fronts,…) matters at all and you should just go fishing because you don’t “need” blah, blah, blah. Keep a good detailed fishing log and begin to put the pieces together. You’ll start to see patterns after time and you can form your own opinions on the impacts wind may or may not have.
In the future, where every stranger poses a potential threat, knowing the predator mindset is the only safe haven.
Xpress H20B Bay Series
Yamaha 115 SHO
Interesting article on what some “pros” think about impact of wind and barometric pressure. I’ve seen some other variations on this but I think this article makes a good point to emphasize the impact varies by species and region for various reasons and you have to learn the impact on what you’re fishing where you’re fishing.
https://weather.com/sports-recreation/fishing/news/fishing-barometer-20120328
Whatever you do, do NOT bring up water temps.
“Apathy is the Glove into Which Evil Slips It’s Hand”, but really, who cares?
I’ve never been one to get too worried over the all the specifics of weather/climate conditions as they relate to fishing unless they kept me from going. I will look at temps, tides, wind directions etc generally, but all the numbers don’t get me concerned. However, I do feel that all these things affect all living things in one way or another and just like we do they may change their habits because of these specifics. To what extent fish are impacted, I don’t feel there’s any hard & fast answer.
As Archer has said, over time there can be patterns, and learning them can certainly improve your fishing. Thing is, many if us don’t get to fish often enough to really take advantage of those patterns, so we just have to do the best we can. No one catches fish that doesn’t go!
I’ve heard some of those statements too, and have known others who only fished when conditions were this or that. None of the “numbers” will prevent me from going fishing. The fish don’t watch the weather reports and I’ve had too many days in my fishing life where the “wrong” times to fish have been my most productive.
I take note of all the numbers but don’t live or die by them. 
I only catch really good fish on Fridays…I don’t know why, but its the truth. Maybe something about realizing that I should be at work, but my days are always at least twice as good fishing on Fridays…that being said, I’ll be chasing some reds this Friday coming…
May all your favorite bands stay together…
quote:
Originally posted by 23SailfishI only catch really good fish on Fridays…
…or when I call in sick to go fishing.
-The size of a fish is directly proportional to the time between when it’s lost and the story is told. - Me
-What’s the best eating fish, you ask? I’ve found that for a lot people, its the ones that they happen to be able to catch, clean, and cook. - My Dad
-Until you have loved a dog, part of your soul remains unawakened. Anatole France (paraphrased)
-RIP my “Puppy Dog” 10/15/2004 - 1/14/2013. I’ll never forget him. What a special friend he was.
-Team Gonna Fish
Catching fish is a bonus, being away from work…AHHHHHHHHH.
“Apathy is the Glove into Which Evil Slips It’s Hand”, but really, who cares?
I remember an old movie where some kids had “snitched” (stolen) a watermelon & they said “snitched” watermelon was the best. Perhaps the fishing is better when you guys are calling out of work, because it’s psychological, like the stolen watermelon being better! 
But I agree, going fishing, even when the fish aren’t biting is always better than going to work! I drove a tractor trailer for Dominos Pizza for 18 years and ran a layover route for most of those years. There was a big pond behind the store where I usually laid over. I often carried either a spinning rod or a fly rod so I could fish a couple hours before getting some sleep. In that case work & fishing went together for me!
There were places I used to fish in MD where fishing was usually better mid week than the weekends. Likely because of the fishing pressure there on the weekends.
23Sailfish, I don’t know about the Friday thing for you, can’t explain something like that but hey, you’ve got to go with what works!
Couldn’t agree more. Aside from severe weather, the conditions (wind direction, barometric pressure, etc…) do t keep me from going. I do t play with lightning though. I use the conditions as merely additional pieces of the puzzle but go fishing every chance I get.
In the future, where every stranger poses a potential threat, knowing the predator mindset is the only safe haven.
Xpress H20B Bay Series
Yamaha 115 SHO
I fish deeper in the winter months than most bass fishermen would believe, mostly with spoons when the water is very cold. (Sorry about the water temp reference.) I believe the fronts don’t affect the deeper freshwater fish nearly as much as they do the shallow ones. I’ve caught some of my biggest largemouth, white perch and stripers during very hard windy cold fronts. Sometimes the line will freeze on the rod guides and/or in the reels, but the fish keep biting. What would usually slow down or stop the shallow bite doesn’t usually hurt the deep bite much at all. But I agree, the best time to go fishing is when you can. Lightning is about the only thing that can keep me off of the water when fishing fever hits me. I think the weekday and early morning fishing on freshwater lakes is better partly because of reduced boat traffic and noise.
x2 on archer and others. Love fishing and being out there. Catching is bonus and the science of temps, winds, etc are “reasoning” for skunk days! If you are lucky and able to fish enough and track all the data then you will likely get some trends for specific species in specific areas. I haven’t been very successful in the data tracking department, starts to feel like work! Actually looking at some fishing log apps to make that simpler. If not, oh well, I’ll just keep fishing and try to do that more on Fridays (best data trend I’ve seen on here!). Beautiful weekend ahead, get out there and get after it, maybe the “data” will cooperate!
NE catch the least
Mayhem
Pioneer 197
Baro pressure affects them the most imo Just watch fish in an aquarium or your bait tank , when baro is high bait will be lethargic
and fish just aren’t as active or bite , baro starts to rise and bait will get more active and fish usually bite more…just sayin!!!
[http://www.militaryappreciationday.org
When you see “Old Glory” waving in the breeze, know that it is the dying breaths of our fallen hero’s that makes it wave.
author unknown
Simple rule of thumb. you can exploit as much as you wish
Wind from the east, fish bite the least;
Wind from the west, the fish bite the best;
Wind from the north, few sailors set forth;
Wind from the south blows bait in their mouth.
I honestly can say I have found very little correlation between inshore fishing success during high versus low pressures. I have had some of my most memorable catches in both extremes as compared to bass fishing where fishing is USUALLY better during low pressure or severe pressure shifts. I can say with confidence, though, that low pressure and pressure shifts USUALLY mean higher winds which muddy the water around here which makes fishing much tougher, especially for trout. Take today as an example. Most of the main river fish in SHS and Wadmalaw Sound were safe from angler pressure because of muddy water. Trout fishing has been on fire, but not on days like today because of poor water clarity.