Tide Charts: Quick Lesson - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

MountainBreeze · 10-01-2002, 08:33 AM

Could someone give me the "down n' dirty" on what all this means?

Tide Chart

And... when is the best time to go out?

I normally go when I can fit it into my schedule but I have some time off coming up and I'd like to make the most of it.

Thanks folks!

Rob - The Inquisitive Angler

The Iceman 6 · 10-01-2002, 09:08 AM

MtnBrz1 - use this one - it's in english. Usually, the general rule is 2 hours incoming/2 hours outgoing - however, I like the outgoing a lot more then the incoming. I'm sure we all have our own thoughts on this. A lot of people like fishing the full moon, I love fishing the dark side of the moon. In October, it really don't matter much - just get out there............ You gotta be in it to win it....

http://www.saltwatertides.com/pickpred.html

Hope it helps,

Ice

MountainBreeze · 10-01-2002, 09:21 AM

Thanks for the link Ice!

Let me ask you this...

1) What do they mean by "Height Feet?"

2) When you say "2 hours incoming/2 hours outgoing," do you mean I should get there 2 hours before the tide starts to come in and stay until 2 hours after it goes out?

Now, here is an even more ignorant question... How long does the tide stay in before it goes back out? Given the case above, would I be there for 4 hours or longer? Or, does it start to go back out as soon as it hits high?

Again... Sorry for the stupid Q's and thanks for helpin' me out!

Regards,
Rob

Big Vern · 10-01-2002, 09:43 AM

MountainBreeze...

Height feet refers to the degree of flow the tide has at that point. Not all tides are created equal. Some rise much higher and drain much lower than others. It's all linked to the phase of the moon. The higher the height feet the faster the flow of the tide.

To go from one stage of the tide to the next (ie. low to high) it takes approxiamtely five and half to six hours, but can be altered by winds/weather to a small degree. The tide will move about one hour later each day. So, if low was at 6 AM yesterday, it would be around 7 AM today.

As for what tide to fish, I think it really depends on the spot. The general consensus is that the two hours before and after high tide are best. However, I have spots where you can't catch a thing near the high, but are absolutely loaded at the low. The knowledgeable surfcaster will have a few different spots that are reliable at different stages of the tide. More important than tides is the time to fish. Think sun-up, sunset, and the NIGHT. When the favorable tide lines up with the times to fish, it's even better.

The Iceman 6 · 10-01-2002, 09:49 AM

Mountain Breeze, DC tells it like it IS.....

Ice

MountainBreeze · 10-01-2002, 10:02 AM

Thanks Fellers'!

I actually printed out a chart, read your posts a couple times and... I GET IT!

Regards,
Rob

hooked · 10-01-2002, 03:12 PM

I've checked this site too.

http://www.wunderground.com/MAR/AN/150.html

It has ebb and flow times and speed that will let you know when there is current vs. slack in the inlets.

shore manic · 10-01-2002, 10:35 PM

did someone say (dark side of the moon) that's my favorite album,oops showing my age now. why? cause they have cd's now. FTSH ON!