We catch up with ‘London Perch Finder’ Adam Jones about angling using solunar theory, and also his YouTube channel.
AAS: How long have you been an angler and how did you get started?
AJ: Ever since I can remember I have been fascinated by the marine environment. I do not come from a family of anglers or marine enthusiasts, but something inside me has always drawn me to the water. I picked up my first dip net when I was about three at the local river, and my first rod aged five, and have been totally enthralled ever since. As I am dyslexic I have never really read much, but my addiction to the water was such that I taught myself from every fishing and marine-related book or magazine I could find. It is a labour of love and a journey that I am still very much on to this day. There is always something to learn when it comes to fish and fishing.
AAS: Can you explain what solunar theory is?
AJ: Solunar theory in layman’s terms is a theory of when is best to fish in any one day based on the movement of the sun and the moon. It was established in 1926 by John Alden Knight and over the years has been proven time and time again to carry weight. The moon is obviously intrinsically linked with the tides anyway, but this theory goes beyond tides and provides major and minor ‘hot spots’ in the day when fish are likely to be the most active. These ‘major’ and ‘minor’ times are then rated to give you the best days to fish within the cycle. It is a very interesting data set and one that I utilise in my planning for any session alongside all other variables.
AAS: How does the theory help you catch more?
AJ: Like anything in fishing, information helps you stack the odds in your favour. That can be anything from weather conditions like pressure and wind, to water conditions like tide and temperature. Solunar theory is another piece in this puzzle and one that is really worth considering. The best example of this would be fishing the same area day in, day out and looking at trends in catch rate. In any one tide movement, fish will be most obliging at certain times of the tide. This is not new information, but it is something that can be overlooked. Some of this could be down to the tide size, but more often than not, it lines up with a ‘major’ or ‘minor’ time in the Solunar table. It is not a perfect science, but this knowledge can help when it comes to making better angling decisions.
AAS: Can you tell us how you use the Fish Forecast widget on your Garmin watch?
AJ: On my Garmin quatix 7 Pro watch, I set my favoured fishing locations and on any one day, I can click into the Fish Forecast widget and see the best times for fishing there on that day. When planning ahead, I change the date to show me the Solunar table for that day and plan my session accordingly. It is very intuitive, easy to read and helps me make more informed decisions.
AAS: Tell us about your YouTube channel Perch Finder TV.
AJ: My social media is under the name ‘London Perch Finder’ on Instagram and everything has grown from there. I started this channel as a place to store my photos and document my fishing for myself, and never in a million years did I expect to grow such an amazing community. The same is true for my YouTube channel which I started because I love making films, but did not think it would become my full-time job. The channel has been on a bit of a hiatus over the last few years post-Covid as I have been busy making content for the BoatLife show and some of my sponsors, but that is about to change. The channel is soon to evolve into Watercraft Fishing TV and the videos are about to start coming thick and fast with everything covered from boat to bank, fresh to salt, and everything in between. If you are interested in fishing content here in the UK and beyond, come and join our community.
AAS: What are your three top pieces of advice for anyone thinking of starting out in angling?
AJ: Firstly, find a good local tackle shop and ask questions (information is key in angling). Secondly, watch others on YouTube and try to put some of that advice into practice. Thirdly, get out there and just enjoy the journey. Fishing is not all about catching fish, it is about connecting with nature in a way you may not have before. It is the start of a journey that you will love for the rest of your life, and I promise that, once on that journey, you will encounter more and more fish along the way!
AAS: What are your favourite places to fish?
AJ: Saltwater-wise, it has to be Pembrokeshire, which is where my parents live, and for freshwater, it is a tough question, but the mighty River Thames has always had my heart.
AAS: If you could have dinner with any two people from history, dead or alive, who would you choose?
AJ: As we are talking angling, it would have to be John Wilson. I would love to pick his brains and talk about his many adventures. Outside of fishing, I would love to spend some time with Matthew McConaughey. I think it would be a fantastic dinner, listening to his thoughts on life and business.
⚫ www.instagram.com/londonperchfinder
⚫ Watercraft Fishing TV: shorturl.at/dloz2
⚫ Garmin quatix® 7 Pro: www.garmin.com/en-GB/p/1277573
