Offshore tides

[Salty Gator]

Would one of you offshore veterans mind schooling me on offshore tides? When I go offshore the tides don't seen to correspond with what's happening inshore. Last weekend there was a strong outgoing in the am. When we got to out spot about 30 miles off, the tide was dead slack. Are offshore tides diurnal ( 1 hi and 1 low in a 24 hr period, like Pensacola ) or semi diurnal (2 hi's and 2 lows in a 24 he period like here)? I would think that it would be semi diurnal and a couple of hours ahead, but I hate to assume. I'd just like to be able to predict the current a little better. Thank you for any help.

[Gulf Coast]

There not going to be the same as inshore....I have never seen on offshore tide chart...maybe the towers have one. The o/s tides,my guess would be ahead of the i/s tides moving from west to east

[tallykenj]

Interesting question.

[reelhandy]

Maybe the tides aren't as noticeable offshore in general? Inshore you have the shallower water where the rise and fall makes a lot of current. It could be like how they say a Tidalwave isn't noticed out at sea, but then grows as it comes inshore.....or something like that.

[Salty Gator]

Maybe the tides aren't as noticeable offshore in general? Inshore you have the shallower water where the rise and fall makes a lot of current. It could be like how they say a Tidalwave isn't noticed out at sea, but then grows as it comes inshore.....or something like that.

I've done a little "research" since my post and there are several factors that go into it and water depth has an effect. Most of the effect is from the moons and to a lesser extent suns gravitational force on the earth. What I have a problem with is the timing compared to inshore.
The last time I went offshore night fishing was during a July full moon and the current was ripping so hard 30 miles offshore we couldn't get our chum to the structure without having to move a half mile up current. It made fishing quite difficult. I went to the same area during the day and there is so little current an unweighted piece of cut bait would fall straight to the bottom. I'm just not exactly sure how to time the right amount of moving water.

[Ifishtoo]

I can tell you that offshore of Steinhatchee, in 25-60ft, that's out to about 30 miles, tides follow the same trend. When it's slack tide, meaning little or no water flowing in 5'; it is about the same offshore in 25-60'. Slack tide is a great time to catch bait fish...... and piss poor for quality fish. Maximum tidal flow will occur at roughly the same times, too. Best bite seems to be the last 3 hours of the tidal flow.

I can also tell you that when fishing on Florida's east coast from Mayport to Sebastian Inlet, 5-40 miles offshore and in 50-150', the tide chart means very little. Full moon & new moon do produce the best chances for strong currents. First quarter and last quarter will be the best chances to bottom fish in deeper waters, from 140-250'.

Experience tells me, if you don't have enough current try fishing another 10-20ft deeper or another 5-10 miles from shore. Also, while you are there, catch some bait before you leave a slack current area. Deeper waters seldom have slack flow.

Until you gain some local knowledge, limit the distance traveled, before you try a deeper or farther spot. Waters beyond 60-75' are likely to experience eddies. Capes, such as Cape St George and certainly Cape San Blas effect the location of eddies.

If you want current and you plan on fishing in 60+ ft in the GOM, I suspect the odds are better near the new and full moon. If you want to fish beyond 170', I suspect the current is rippin during those same time periods.