Tides

[tallarob]

Although growing up in St. Pete on the water, I am generally a novice when it comes to fishing (we were water skiers). My son is the real fisherman in the family and he convinced me that we needed a boat. Decided on a real nice Sea Boss 19 Bay. Anyway, could someone tell me what effect tides have on fishing the flats at St. Marks?

In other words, when is the best time to fish based on the tides?

[dogonenuts]

Now I am no expert by a long stretch, but yes and no. The fish difinitely bite better when there is some water movement. However, I have found that they sometimes bite better just when I think they should be nocking off and then again they are late to show up sometimes as well. In general I have been told they bite better on the fising tide or within an hour or two on either side of the high tide. Around the oyster bars they seem to do better as the tide is running out in my limited experience fishing there.

In short, I am still scratching my head a little to. Other factors out side of the obvious weather conditions are within an hour after moon rise and before moonset, as well as when the moon is right overhead or right "underfoot" are supposed to be major and minor feeding times.

That's all I know and I don't guarantee any of it. The main thing I know is you can't ketch 'em if you aren't out there putting some hooks in the water.

Good luck,

Nuts

[Chalk]

An hour before and after a tide change is the general rule...Then factor weather, the moon, boat traffic, bait, etc....All those type things influence the attitude fish have.....

Example: December, good tide movement say 7:30am, it's 30 degrees....You stand a better chance of catching fish on the next tide (1:30pm) when the sun has warmed the water some and the fish are less lethargic...just one example, each day is different....As Tred, says, "Think" and "stay in the game".

[tallarob]

Thanks for your replies.

Just to get this straight. An hour before and and hour after a tide change seems to be best. Does it matter if it is high or low tide? Is one better than the other?

Also, why does this matter? Is the tide moving the bait and causing the fish to feed or is it something else?

[Chalk]

Some say low to high is better and some say the opposite....

general idea is the water is moving one direction or the other washing bait by the fish's ambush spot...

[Frank Bradfield]

Higher tides are much safer for novice boaters and lower tides tend to tear up more stuff

[tallarob]

One last question. Doesn't the tide come in and go out at a constant rate? If so, the water should always be moving. Maybe it is best around the tide change because the water is changing directions and stirring things up a bit. Just a thought.

[tin can]

One last question. Doesn't the tide come in and go out at a constant rate? If so, the water should always be moving. Maybe it is best around the tide change because the water is changing directions and stirring things up a bit. Just a thought.

Go to this link:

http://www.wxtide32.com/

Download the software and install it on your computer. It actually graphs the tides. You'll see, at high and low, there is some still water.

[Chalk]

Yes and no....when it goes slack, it stops...I've witnessed it first had, in a grounded boat .....Think of the tide as the wind and smelling food cooking.....same idea for fish.....the water moves and they look for easy opportunities to eat....

[tallarob]

I appreciate everyone's help on this topic. I particularly like that computer application that Tin Can provided.

One more question. When it gives the tide height, what is it using as a reference? For example, tomorrow high tide is 3.64 feet at 12:15 and negative 0.11 at 8:11.

[tin can]

0 on the tide chart is mean sea level. You'll see more negative low tides during the winter, and this brings the mean, or average down. BYW, the more movement, the better the fishing.....................usually.