Tides

[pokerplayer]

What's the deal with tides when surfcasting for bass? (I'm a new convert to the joy)
I live north of boston, with easy access to Merrimac River, Plum Island, Cranes Beach, etc.

When is best to fish? Dead low tide, incoming tide, high tide?
Mostly, I've caught fish just after dead low tide at Cranes, but only high at Plum Island.
What's the rule of thumb, if any?
TY for info-
BTW rumor has it that Plum Island at mouth of Merrimac has been killer last few days, and many Salmon taken out of Merrimac River between Lawrence and Haverhill

[JohnR]

PP - welcome to S-B... Tides are like a box of chocalates...

OK, Not true. Tides/Current will have all kinds of bearings on the fishing, from covering & uncovering structure to carrying bait by structre (there's that "S" word again) to creating a helluva rip, to covering a flat, to stacking against this wind to laying down that wind, to making a bar accessible, and the list goes on. A couple rules of thumb, the dropping tide is usually greatest at an inlet, sweeping bait out to fish stacked up in a rip. High tides are usually good for sweeping in on structure and food along the water's edge. Really depends on where you are...