Every year I send out an email regarding tide selection. I look ahead in the tide charts for the days with either really huge tides or really small tides and then list them so folks can plan their trips. This usually generates a lot of confusion from folks that believe that if they have not selected a day listed in the optimum BASS or TUNA tides, that they would have a less than a great trip.I just now looked into the tide charts to see the extreme tides for the months ahead. As long as we are targeting STRIPED BASS, we really don't need to have the extreme "big" tides, we just don't want the really small tides. Even if we were on the extreme small tides, the stripers will feed, just not for as long a period as they would on a larger tide. Keep in mind we will find good bass fishing on any tide as long as we can plan the trip on a day when there are no really crowded fishing days - especially if we can select days without huge weekend boat traffic and get an early start.
As for a BLUEFIN TUNA trip we then would look for only the days with the smallest tides. I also prefer not having a bright moon the night before, and a time of slack water between 7 and 9 am. Here is a list of the smallest tides: JUNE 21, 22, 23, 24 JULY 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 20, 21, 22, 23 AUGUST 2, 3, 4, 5, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 31 SEPTEMBER 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 16, 17, 18, 19, 29, 30
Here are the very biggest tides:
JULY 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 AUGUST 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, SEPTEMBER 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, OCTOBER 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
ALL other days not listed here as either extremely small or large are in the average run of tides and should be OK for either bass or tuna fishing. When you come on board with me I can show you how to read the tide charts to determine the varying sizes of tides. For contact information, please email me at bruce@sportfishingcapecod.com or call me at home @ 508-255-0911 to ask questions or reserve a date. You may also fill out the contact form on this website to be contacted by me.
Thanks very much,
Capt. Bruce & "Marilyn S"
