What the moon actually does
Two real effects: stronger tides on the new/full (inshore), and a measurable spike in nocturnal feeding 2–3 days either side of the full moon (freshwater + inshore). Everything else — solunar tables, major/minor periods — is correlation hunting on noisy data.
Inshore: new and full moons
Spring tides hit on new and full. Stronger currents move bait through choke points: passes, jetties, oyster bar edges. Redfish and snook stack on outgoing tides. Fish the moving water, not the slack.
Freshwater: the full-moon bedding window
Largemouth bass bed heaviest on the full moons of April–May (south) and May–June (north). Smallmouth follow 2 weeks later. Don't fish over visible beds in tournaments where it's banned — but know the bed wave is happening.
Night fishing windows
Full moon + warm summer night = catfish and walleye feed harder than they do at midday. Fish shallow flats adjacent to deep water with topwater for stripers, glide baits for muskie.
When to ignore it
Front-passage and water temp swings dominate moon phase. A cold front on a full moon kills the bite; a stable warm window on a quarter moon outfishes everything. Pressure first, moon second.