Low Tide Spots (Surf)???????? - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

baldwin · 07-14-2007, 12:51 PM

In some spots, low tide may provide the only access to drop-offs that are otherwise unreachable. Submerged points and sand bars also can provide additional access. Many flats are also better on a low incoming tide.

Canalman · 07-14-2007, 01:00 PM

For me, it's the type of spots more than anything else. Low tide can force fish into certain areas... little alleyways etc and fishing down to low in (almost) any inlet is a no-brainer. And then there's the canal.

-Dave

Joe · 07-14-2007, 01:05 PM

Low tide spots rock...
Inlets, reefs, open beach wading, the ends of sandbars....

animal · 07-14-2007, 02:04 PM

Joe said it,Sandbars.

DZ · 07-14-2007, 02:11 PM

Luds,
Depends on where I fish. Often times I like the lower stages because it puts my offering in the zone of the bass. Many times the bass are grubbing and they will not come off the bottom - during high water they have an extra 4-10 feet of water over them(depending on where you're fishing). You can cast your plugs during high water and they will pay no attention. As the tide drops and the cobble starts to show your offering will be closer to the strike zone of these grubbing bass. Now this is only one scenario. If the bass are actively feeding throughout the water column then any tide may produce strikes.

The outer cape is another extreme example - huge difference between high and low. Low water allows me get on the finger bars to reach the outside drops - high water I'm casting onto the bar where I was standing during low water.

In the rocks I'll fish anywhere that will float a fish. Bass like the shallow stuff - lots of food - as long as they have a way in and out. Lots of guys today fish too deep - they wade or swim right through the bass.

Very good question. One that can have multiple answers. Just another part of the striper puzzle - I just love solving it.

DZ

Karl F · 07-14-2007, 07:48 PM

DZ... VERY Well Said

gone fishin · 07-14-2007, 09:06 PM

Low tide --- rivers emptying backwaters, ditch etc. High tide the beachfront !

Simple rule, but there is no hard and fast rule.

EarnedStripes44 · 07-16-2007, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gone fishin

Low tide --- rivers emptying backwaters, ditch etc. High tide the beachfront !

Simple rule, but there is no hard and fast rule.

I concur, right at the mouth of harbor entrance or even better if it drains a salt marsh. Baits is swept out like a flushing toilet

Canalman · 07-16-2007, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DZ

Lots of guys today fish too deep - they wade or swim right through the bass.

DZ

Amen to that! I'm still waiting for the day I see a guy that swam out onto a rock and hang a good fish 30 feet behind him

... That's all I think about when I hear these guys talking about swimming... it's one thing to get to an edge or past some tough rubble... but watch the good boat guys... they cast in not out...

luds · 07-16-2007, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Canalman

Amen to that! I'm still waiting for the day I see a guy that swam out onto a rock and hang a good fish 30 feet behind him

... That's all I think about when I hear these guys talking about swimming... it's one thing to get to an edge or past some tough rubble... but watch the good boat guys... they cast in not out...

I agree with you for the most part but you can't ignore the fact that someone doing that is giving themselves access to more water. They can work towards shore, away from it, or parrallel to it which for me not that I "swim" out to rocks is often the most productive. Often being able to keep your eel or plug in the strike zone longer by working parallel to shore is a big bonus. It's kind of like fishing the tip of a jetty.

The big mistake that I think is the most common is swimming or wading to the rock before making any casts in front of it or around it. I'm sure you can disturb the fish by doing this but just as importantly you are putting in alot of unecessary effort if there were fish to be had by just casting from shore.

DZ · 07-17-2007, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luds48

The big mistake that I think is the most common is swimming or wading to the rock before making any casts in front of it or around it. I'm sure you can disturb the fish by doing this but just as importantly you are putting in alot of unecessary effort if there were fish to be had by just casting from shore.

Luds,
You hit the nail on the head.

DZ