What is the best time of day to fish in Phoenix?

The most reliable windows are the low-light hours around sunrise and sunset. Today in Phoenix, sunrise is about 5:39 AM and sunset about 7:32 PM, so the dawn and dusk windows either side of those are your best bets — especially on an overcast day or a moving tide.

Does the moon affect fishing in Phoenix?

Yes. The strongest solunar feeding periods and biggest tides come around the new and full moons. The moon is currently a Full Moon (99% illuminated). For the precise solunar major/minor times and tides for your exact spot, use the MyFishingBuds AI Trip Planner.

Best Time to Fish in Phoenix

Arizona · Wednesday, July 29

🌅

5:39 AM

Sunrise

🌇

7:32 PM

Sunset

🌙

99%

Moon

Today's best windows in Phoenix

🌅 Dawn — 5:09 AM to 6:39 AM

The first light window is the most reliable bite of the day for most species — fish move shallow to feed before the sun gets high.

🌇 Dusk — 6:02 PM to 8:02 PM

The last couple hours of light are the second prime window, especially as water cools and bait moves.

🌙 Moon — Full Moon (99% lit)

A bright moon means more overnight feeding, which can slow the midday bite — lean on the dawn and dusk windows. Solunar activity is strongest around the new and full moons.

Sunrise, sunset, and moon phase are computed for Phoenix (Arizona); times shown in local time. Best-window ranges are guidance, not guarantees — weather and tides matter too.

Get the precise solunar + tide forecast for your spot

Dawn and dusk are the reliable daily answer, but the exact solunar major/minor periods and the tides for the specific water you're fishing shift day to day. The MyFishingBuds AI Trip Planner pulls live NOAA, USGS, and solunar data to score the best times for your exact Phoenix spot.

See the AI Trip Planner →

Best season to fish Phoenix

In the desert, spring comes early — bass spawn as soon as February and March and fish well into spring, then move deep for the summer. Summer means fishing at dawn, dusk, and night to beat the heat: catfish at night, stripers and white bass chasing shad on the big lakes, and topwater bass early. Lake Pleasant's striped bass and white bass boils are a summer highlight. Fall is a strong second bass window. Winter is trout season in the valley — Arizona Game and Fish stocks the urban community lakes from roughly November through March, making for easy, family-friendly fishing.

Largemouth BassStriped BassWhite BassFlathead CatfishCrappieRainbow Trout (winter, stocked)

Find a fishing buddy in Phoenix →How to read the best fishing times →AI Trip Planner →

Plan your next Phoenix trip

Free profile, no credit card. Find a buddy, get a live conditions plan, and fish safer.

Get Started Free →