It can sound weird but a comprehensive knowledge on fishing and tides and how they go together can actually pay big dividends. In fact, it is considered to be one key to being successful in the realm of deep sea fishing by the experts.
Let’s dive right in.
The Relationship Between Fishing and Tides
A lot of fishing guides and charter-boat captains know this secret. They even do close studies on currents, ocean tides, and how they will affect fishing in their areas.
The Unknown Secret of Ocean Tides
However, sad to say, that a lot of informal deep sea anglers actually pay very little attention to such important details on fishing and tides. In fact, some anglers don’t pay attention at all!
And then they wonder how come the other guy catches all the fish and they don’t. Nevertheless, there are still those who realize that somehow ocean tides can affect their fishing. However, they do not know exactly how and why this happens.
Fishing and Tides Not Right
These anglers usually waste their precious hours trolling, casting and sinker bouncing even when the tide is not right.
However, the deep sea angler who knows how fishing and tides work together could pick in advance the most favourable fishing periods and concentrate their efforts during those times. This simply means you can have less of those wasted days and get more fish on your deep sea fishing trips.
Getting Started with Tides
You don’t have to delve into tide’s science here. Except to point out that tides are due to the gravitational forces that are brought about by the sun and moon. Since the moon is nearer to the earth, it has greater influence with ocean tides than the sun.
Types of Tides
Flood and Ebb Tides
Every time the tide is in, water move’s towards the land, which is also known as “flood tide”. On occasions that tides drop, moving its way back to sea, is called “ebb tide”.
Slack Tide
The period in which it doesn’t move either way is termed as the “slack tide”. It usually takes a period of 6 hours for it to rise, and 6 to get low.
24 Hours
For every 24 hours these tides occur 50 minutes later than the last, approximately.
Variations of Tides
They also vary in regards to the degree that they drop or rise. The highest tides occur when the sun and moon are situated on the same side of Earth, creating a direct line.
Spring Tide
Such kinds of tides are called “spring tide”, which occur during new-moon and full-moon periods.
Neap Tide
During these times, both low and high tides are higher than their usual state. However, during the last and first quarter phases of the moon, tides don’t fall or rise that much. This is called a “neap tide”.
Which Tide is Which
So, which of these tides are helpful and which are not? To start off, most experts believe that moving tides or currents are most of the time more productive than having no currents or tides. Thus, a “slack” tide would rarely produce a good catch.
Using the Tides at The Right Time
You can take advantage of ocean tides even more by knowing when to go.
Incoming Tide
The period in which an incoming tide starts is considered to be one of the productive periods for fishing and tides . Especially if you are targeting gamesters like bluefish, striped bass, channel bass, and weakfish.
Slack Water
During the periods of slack water, the small bait fish tend to scatter. Having a lack of strong currents they are able to swim faster and escape their predators.
Moving
However, when the ocean tides start moving, such small bait fish are at the strong rips and current’s mercy. Thus, they are easier to catch and find by stripers and other kinds of game fish.
Outgoing Tides
When outgoing tides start it is yet another good time go fish, simply for the same logic. In general, the popular change of tide, whether it be low or high, is actually the best time to do your fishing.
Now You Know about Fishing and Tides
So now that you know the relationship between fishing and tides your fishing odds should improve significantly when deep sea fishing. Happy fishing!
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