Hi Folks,Those of you have fished with me before know that I believe strongly some tides are better than others for fishing. I have received many emails asking for suggestions of the best tides for the day you have in mind, but then further along in the email, you may add that you can only go on a “Saturday” or a “weekday” or for example, “not too early in the morning”. Please understand that these restrictions, limit me to only one or two days in that month for that “perfect” tide. Timing of the times of current is how I plan my trips, and that timing changes daily, as the month progresses. Since there only are a limited amount of days with optimum tides, I list them at the beginning of the season, so you can plan your fishing trip and reserve these days.
In a monthly cycle, tides generally are larger for two weeks and are smaller for two weeks, in relation to the moons orbit around the earth. In an annual cycle, tides also vary depending upon the earth’s orbit in relation to both the moon and the sun. When those two cycles run simultaneously, tides in some weeks are much larger and smaller than the average tide. That’s why we have the really huge “spring” and “neap” tides. When tides are small, current velocity is slower and the length of time when the current is barely moving as it changes direction, or “slack”, is longer. Larger tides have increased velocity at maximum current and shorter periods of slack.
It is generally accepted that tuna feed on the times of slack water and striped bass feed on the periods of current flow, so as a service to you, I list the days with the largest and smallest of those measured flows. If the tides are not listed in the two extreme charts below, it doesn’t mean fishing will be bad on the day not listed, it just means it is an average tide, with average flow, and an average slack period.
Here is a list of SMALLEST tides that are better for bluefin tuna.
July 2 3 4 am 5am 16 17 18 30 31 August 1 2 3 4 5 14 15 16 27 28 29 30 31 September 1 2 12 13 14 25 26 27 28 29 30 October 11 12 13 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
These are LARGEST tides that are better suited for bass.
June 24 25 26 27 28 29 July 4 pm 5 pm 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 August 17 pm 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Sept. 17 18 19 20 21 22 October 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 15 16 17 18 19
Call me if you want to reserve something,
Thanks very much,
Capt. Bruce & "Marilyn S"
