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Air pressure and fishing

by Eileen Jenn on Feb 24, 2022

Air pressure and fishing
There are a lot of variables when it comes to choosing the best time to fish. Some anglers believe in moon phase fishing, while others are more concerned with the changing seasons. No matter how and where you forage, there is no doubt that air pressure affects fish behavior.

What has changed? Probably air pressure, as air pressure has an exciting relationship with fishing. In addition to tides, moon phases, water temperature and light levels, atmospheric pressure can also affect your fishing trip.

What is atmospheric pressure?
Air pressure (or atmospheric pressure) is the force created by the weight of air within Earth's atmosphere. The combination of Earth's surface temperature and atmospheric motion creates regions of ever-changing high or low pressure.

what is atmospheric pressure

Most of the time, air pressure at sea level is 14.7 pounds per square inch, but this number is an average. In fact, the global air pressure is different. Also, atmospheric pressure at high altitudes is much lower than sea level pressure, mainly due to fewer air molecules at high altitudes.

air pressure and weather
Atmospheric pressure directly affects the weather. As pressure rises and falls, the weather changes accordingly and predictably.

When meteorologists at local news stations describe high and low pressure systems, they are referring to the effects of atmospheric pressure.

Just as gravity affects the flow of water from its highest point to its lowest point, air flows from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure. This movement exacerbates weather conditions in low-pressure areas and draws air out of high-pressure systems.

Barometers measure changes in atmospheric pressure to predict any drastic changes in the weather. Torriselian barometers are clear glass tubes placed in a pool of mercury. As air pressure pushes the mercury, it begins to rise up the tube. The higher the mercury rises into the tube, the higher the air pressure.