High or Low

[Haus]

I've had success on both tides on the Cape Cod National Seashore, but never had as much luck on low tide. What tide do you guys like and what are the benefits or reason for success on either low or High?

[Clogston29]

Spot specific depending on current, structure, etc. Some places you need high water to flood a piece of structure, others low or somewhere in between to get water moving right around structure. Think structure, depth and current, not tide stage imo.
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[Haus]

You are right. I'm just not so familiar with beach fishing (all sand). I fish mostly from rocks where I see more rock structure. trying to get a better understanding of the Cape Seashore

[Clogston29]

I'm the same way. Not too experienced with sand but I've found same rules apply, structure is just more subtle, harder to read, and changes more often. Spend some time watching the waves during the day for trough and bars that will concentrate fish.
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[BigFish]

The late, great Flaptail once told me he preferred a dropping tide on the backside! Spent alot of time fishing the backside myself and found most success on the drop! Find a trough on the drop and fish where it flushes out! Remember "still water runs deep" so if you read the water look for the "still" water.....that is where the holes are and there you will find your quarry as Josh said......."concentrations of fish".

[Haus]

Yes, yes, yes! I like that. I read that somewhere too. I guess I just forgot it. Been a while since I fished the sand. Sounds right to me. thx

[spence]

Originally Posted by BigFish

Find a trough on the drop and fish where it flushes out! Remember "still water runs deep" so if you read the water look for the "still" water.....that is where the holes are and there you will find your quarry as Josh said......."concentrations of fish".

Great advice...

-spence

[l.i.fish.in.vt]

i spend quite a bit of time fishing the sands of the CCNS,and my adivce is to fish whenever you have the time to fish.i catch as many fish on a low incoming as i do on a high out going it all depends on where you are fishing and when the fish happen to be in any given spot.the one thing i always look forward to is a heavy sw wind.if you want to do well on the sands of the seashore be ready to walk long distances.

[robc22]

I fish the beaches of CCB quite a bit......I like high outgoing with a lite to medium onshore wind the best.......

[stripermaineiac]

Look for the wind blowin on shore at an angle going against the tide.You'll do better with that out there than you will with the tide.If you can find it in conjunction to daybreak or dusk even better.Don't worry about it being just sand as there are all kinds of bars out there. Hunt for them at low tide but fish them when the water is going over them.I've found many times that the fish will be on the same bar once you find them just in a spot where the rip has formed on that stage of the tide.Watch the locals but don't copy them too tight. I've found many nice fish doing the opposit. Habits and sweet spots can keep you from finding fish out there.Wind makes a huge difference out there.Ron

[Rappin Mikey]

I think wind in your face is just as, if not as imporatnt as tide.

[Rockfish9]

Too many variables for a quick answer... it changes year to year, season to season... spot to spot..... there are fish feeding somewhere at every stage of the tide.. it's all in knowing when to be where...... so far this year... the last hour of the drop and the turn have been the most productive... as they are every spring in the river...

[Jackbass]

Originally Posted by l.i.fish.in.vt

i spend quite a bit of time fishing the sands of the CCNS,and my adivce is to fish whenever you have the time to fish.i catch as many fish on a low incoming as i do on a high out going it all depends on where you are fishing and when the fish happen to be in any given spot.the one thing i always look forward to is a heavy sw wind.if you want to do well on the sands of the seashore be ready to walk long distances.

I agree whole heartedly the best advice I could give is check out all the spots you want to fish at low and look For soft structure or moving water at low. The places that show the rips and moving water at low should be fishable at those tides and will at some point produce. The places with a lot of exposed structure at low will be productive on incoming or dripping tides etc. The one thing about soft structure is it changes every season and sometimes daily. Learn to read the water and your chances will improve greatly everywhere.
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[Clogston29]

Demystifying the Beach

there's another really good article that I've read that I'm having a hard time thinking of. if i remember, I'll post it. this one is pretty good though and written largely based on the cape I think.

[Haus]

All great info. I will surely be using it on the CCNS this Summer.
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[BigFish]

Bring your seal repellant!!!

[Haus]

Originally Posted by BigFish

Bring your seal repellant!!!

Glocks are allowed on the National Seashore? Sweet!

[Jenn]

huh?....ask a 100 fishermen and get a hundred different answers! SOOOOO wind at your back, wind at an angle or wind in your face? I am so confused!

(now why cant I find that little "stir the pot" smiley to insert here?)

[BigFish]

Its here!

[Jenn]

Originally Posted by BigFish

Its here!

thanks...its been a long day!

[Liv2Fish]

wind with the tide = stronger water movement. Dropping tide = fishing waiting below the bar waiting for water to drop leaving bait with nowhere to go. This has been my success.

look for those long stretches of flat water that drop into holes at half tide. If the wind is pushing it towards the hole, there will be fish waiting for the grub...

[MAKAI]

I prefer the drop.
But, they can be like birds, and be anywhere at any time.

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by l.i.fish.in.vt

the one thing i always look forward to is a heavy sw wind.if you want to do well on the sands of the seashore be ready to walk long distances.

Two key points. Everything else becomes less important if you address these two factors first...get the wind at your back and be ready to cover alot of ground...an onshore wind is ok at times, but wind at your back is the rule.

[BigFish]

All the above responses proves my theory......no one set of conditions produces fish! Only the presence of fish.....produces fish! Get out there.....get a line in the water when you can......enjoy yourself and catching fish is a bonus! I never liked micro-thinking every possible angle and condition and keeping logs.....it sucks the fun right out of it as far as I am concerned! Fish with what you like, when you like and where you like! Best of luck!

[OLD GOAT]

Haus Think of the beach as a blind man waiting for a bus.You don't no when it's coming,you don't no the tide, and you can't change the wind. So I suggest to stop and enjoy the --spot-- and your self at the spot and while your doing it go drownd some bait. It wants to be fresh bait. If it's over 30 hours old,dump it.
Now that your at the--spot--toss your bait out short on one rod and just beyond the second wave with your other rod.
This is a good starting point. From here you can-like a seagull--look up and down the beach and see whats going on and just like a bus stop if you see a blitz heading down the beach then you can put a plug on one rod and follow the blitz.

now pick your spot this here is called learning the beach

[Swimmer]

Fish produce fish.