Beginner saltwater angler trying to figure out the best times to fish!
I've been fishing freshwater all my life pretty much but I'm just getting into saltwater. I live in Massachusetts and mostly plan on going for stripers. I've gone out quite a few times and have seen them but haven't landed any. I just get so confused with all the variables that determine what will be a "good time" and when to use what.
For example people say the two hours before and after high tide are best but also say slack tide is horrible? But isn't slack tide right in the middle of that four hour window? So how is that four hour window the best if it has the worst possible time to fish right in the middle of it?
Also I looked at this website fishnotify and I don't understand what they're doing to determine what's good or bad. One day they'll say is "rough fishing" and two days later will be "amazing fishing" but the conditions all look just about the same so idk if there's any truth to that website or if it's just spewing bullshit.
Plus the moon? I don't have any idea how the moon affects this shit
Someone said colder weather is bad because it cools the water down and makes the fish lethargic? Is there truth to that?
Plus water pressure, swell, sunset/sunrise, ebb tide, outgoing v incoming, etc.
I just feel like everyone says so many things are super important and I don't know what's actually important and what is people just talking. It's so overwhelming!
I just want the simplest, most basic, dumbed down way to explain this. Tell me like I'm a 5 year old please 😭
And I don't want the "the best time to go is when you can go" because if conditions are really amazing I'd like to go somewhere further away that has better fishing than my area. And if conditions are shit id just stick to freshwater for the day. I already go out during all my free time regardless lol