Effects of Tides on Fishing - California Fishing

Wahoo! · 11-26-2005, 02:49 PM

Effects on Tide On Fishing
By Jonathan Sellars

Although the earth's tidal rhythms affect all bodies of water, the impact on
fishing is most apparent along the ocean and gulf shorelines and in the
shallows and bays along what's known as the "intertidal zone". The intertidal
zone is that area in between the highest level reached by the tide and the
furthest point to which the tide recedes. This is the area where sandbars
appear during low tide and water marks can be seen along the beach after the tide recedes.

When the tide is coming in during daylight hours many different species of fish
come in to forage crabs, clams, and the smaller fish who stay within the
intertidal zone. If the tide is coming in at night then sharks, and their
cousins the rays, move in to feast as well.

In simpler terms, when the tide is high new feeding areas open up in the flats
that bigger fish can't reach when the tide is low. As baitfish move in to eat
the smaller inhabitants, the predators move in to eat the bait fish.
You'll have a better chance of catching the big ones if you hit these flats
just before the tide comes in so you can have a look around. Once you identify the likely ambush spots are you'll know where the aggressive predators will be
hanging out. Keep your eye out for dips, holes, tree stumps, submerged dock
pilings and other big-fish favorites.

Keep in mind that the big fish are easily spooked when they are trapped in
shallow water so you are better to cast out from where you think they are
hiding and then slowly reel your bait into their location.
On the other hand, when water levels drop during low tide fish are forced onto the outer edges of the flats and into the deeper holes. This creates congestion and larger fish schools which makes competition for food even keener and causes the hungry predators to hit almost anything that looks like food to them.

Not all of the action is in the intertidal zone however. Coastal lagoons and
inlets are also good tide-driven fishing grounds when you understand how they work.

Coastal lagoons and inlets are usually separated from the main body of water by a piece of land of some type. They are usually fed by a combination of fresh water streams, rivers, or underground springs and salt water which invades during high tides.

Rising water levels will usually force open parts of the lagoon's walls which
causes an inflow of water from the sea. When the tide begins to recede a
corresponding outflow of water is created. All of this agitation stirs up
crustaceans and other food and attracts large predators who are ready for an
easy meal.

If you've got something on your hook that looks like whatever the fish are
naturally finding in the lagoon, you've got a recipe for a limit day.
Once you understand how the tides affect your favorite fishing hole you can
change your luck just by reading the tide table in your local newspaper.

klymons · 07-27-2006, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wahoo!

Effects on Tide Fishing
By Jonathan Sellars

Although the earth's tidal rhythms affect all bodies of water, the impact on
fishing is most apparent along the ocean and gulf shorelines and in the
shallows and bays along what's known as the "intertidal zone". The intertidal
zone is that area in between the highest level reached by the tide and the
furthest point to which the tide recedes. This is the area where sandbars
appear during low tide and water marks can be seen along the beach after the tide recedes.

When the tide is coming in during daylight hours many different species of fish
come in to forage crabs, clams, and the smaller fish who stay within the
intertidal zone. If the tide is coming in at night then sharks, and their
cousins the rays, move in to feast as well.

In simpler terms, when the tide is high new feeding areas open up in the flats
that bigger fish can't reach when the tide is low. As baitfish move in to eat
the smaller inhabitants, the predators move in to eat the bait fish.
You'll have a better chance of catching the big ones if you hit these flats
just before the tide comes in so you can have a look around. Once you identify the likely ambush spots are you'll know where the aggressive predators will be
hanging out. Keep your eye out for dips, holes, tree stumps, submerged dock
pilings and other big-fish favorites.

Keep in mind that the big fish are easily spooked when they are trapped in
shallow water so you are better to cast out from where you think they are
hiding and then slowly reel your bait into their location.
On the other hand, when water levels drop during low tide fish are forced onto the outer edges of the flats and into the deeper holes. This creates congestion and larger fish schools which makes competition for food even keener and causes the hungry predators to hit almost anything that looks like food to them.

Not all of the action is in the intertidal zone however. Coastal lagoons and
inlets are also good tide-driven fishing grounds when you understand how they work.

Coastal lagoons and inlets are usually separated from the main body of water by a piece of land of some type. They are usually fed by a combination of fresh water streams, rivers, or underground springs and salt water which invades during high tides.

Rising water levels will usually force open parts of the lagoon's walls which
causes an inflow of water from the sea. When the tide begins to recede a
corresponding outflow of water is created. All of this agitation stirs up
crustaceans and other food and attracts large predators who are ready for an
easy meal.

If you've got something on your hook that looks like whatever the fish are
naturally finding in the lagoon, you've got a recipe for a limit day.
Once you understand how the tides affect your favorite fishing hole you can
change your luck just by reading the tide table in your local newspaper.

All that stuff about tides is good to know. Like you point out, change your luck just by reading the tide tables in the local paper. But there's more to this tide business than just facts and figures. You've got to get yourself psyched up & in the mood to run your game on the beans & BSP's

In other words, you need to crank up the appropriate tunes on your CD player. And here are just some of them: "Tide Is High" by Blondie. . ."Ebb Tide" by The Platters. . ."As Soon As The Tide Comes In" by Del Amitri. . ."And The Tide Rushes In" by The Moody Blues. . ."High Tide Or Low Tide" by Bob Marley. . .and if you hit the beach at the wrong tide, you can always follow the recommendation of Chris "Whitey" Anderson--"Tequila At Low Tide!"

bigdee · 12-10-2006, 06:25 PM

Klymons, and if you dont get phyched up you will be "sitting on the dock in the bay"

jodi805 · 12-11-2006, 01:01 AM

whether or not im at the islands or only a few miles offsore or less we notice effects on tides when we pay attention to it .
but what really shuts down a bite or starts one is current change, it is everything.

DOCSTONE · 12-12-2006, 04:36 PM

Also combine HIGH TIDE,CHANGE OF CURRENT(Tidal change), and DAYLIGHT (early Dawn or late Dusk) and like inside information @ a Sports Book your odds go way up !!!!!

And of course don't forget to factor in seasonal patterns!!!!!!!!!!!

NulodPBall · 12-12-2006, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jodi805

whether or not im at the islands or only a few miles offsore or less we notice effects on tides when we pay attention to it .
but what really shuts down a bite or starts one is current change, it is everything.

===

Yes, even at Catalina the effect of tides can be important (I'm assuming because of the relatively shallow waters surrounding the island), but the tides interaction with the current flow can be more complicated as we also get that current down from Alaska to interact with, but basically if you're going for YT, you need at least some current flow...and a really strong one gives your bait more action...kill the current, kill the action = no fish.

It's really bad when the current fights the wind...then your boat gets all cock-eyed and you're fishing of the side or the bow and things get funky.

Hey if anyone wants to see something really neat, look up "Tidal Bore" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tidal_bore). The Bay of Fundy used to have one, but "man" has killed it.

BIGFISH4YOU · 12-12-2006, 09:28 PM

WE LIVE BY THE TIDES HERE FISHING, BEST ON THE INCOMING OR OUTGOING SOME OF THE GUYS FISH THE WHOLE TIDE WITH 5 POUND WEIGHTS!!!! YUK YUK

marlintuna · 04-11-2007, 02:51 PM

Yep, same here in San Diego. My best fish on plastics have always been on a strong current, throwing plastics upcurrent and usually getting bit on the drift/sink back if we are on anchor. As for the moon/tides effect on bite, here in San Diego it's a double edge sword. For local kelp and inshore species the bite - or lack of - totally correlates with a full moon. The local bite shuts down on a full moon but for Bluefin Tuna, it's the opposite. We get people months in advance booking full moon June - Sept trips in hope of following historical better counts for these fish during a full moon. Tides fo local fish our bite is always best on a changing tide when the current is most likely to pick up. Lol, always some funny comments and theories on this topic. WOw, awesome barn door BigFish!

Rob
www.sportfishsandiego.com