Understanding Tides (5 of 21)

Inter-tidal zones are some of the most productive ecosystems in the world. They are packed with shrimp and crabs and bait fish and all other kinds of life. They are often too dry or the water is too shallow for game fish at low tide. As the tide rises on an incoming tide the game fish then come in in search of these prey items.

Game fish respond to the tides and follow a rising tide into the shallows to get at creatures they can't get at in low tide. The shallow water of low tide also makes it harder for prey to escape because crabs, shrimp, and bait fish have little room to maneuver in the shallows. Outgoing tides also flush prey from marshes and creeks. Bringing these food sources to game fish that wade in slightly deeper water. In general any amount of water movement produces good fishing. And whether the outgoing or in going tide is better, really varies from location to location.

Slack tides don't move prey around so fish may not feed as readily then. High tide sometimes make fishing hard because game fish are hard to spot and are more scattered. But again every location is different so never give up if the tide doesn't look optimum.