In general, do you guys prefer fishing the incoming or outgoing tide? I seem to struggle on an incoming, but do pretty well on the outgoing/low. Any advice as to strategy or tricks to fishing incoming tide?
“…Livin’ and dyin’ in three quarter time”
-Jimmy Buffett, Nautical Wheelers
For me it mostly depends on where I am fishing and what I am fishing for. Usually incoming for Reds and Flounder. Outgoing for Trout. And just depends on where I am for Sheephead.
Completely dependent on the spot. Outgoing tide spots I believe are easier to find because of the water in the marsh funneling through the feeder creeks is easy to locate and fish. On an incoming tide it is more about finding where the fish are staging themselves until the water is high enough to push back into the grassline and inner marsh.
In general when fishing for reds, I have more consistent success on an outgoing tide because I can set up in a spot where I know the fish need to pass to get to deeper water or structure. However, some of my best days have come on an incoming tide from 1-3 hours after the low. As the tide passes through the lowtide cycle reds will group up. As the water rises they tend to disperse into the marsh. That 2 hour window where the fish are grouped up, current is moving, and there is not enough water for the reds to get into the marsh (out of range) can be excellent.
The tide really doesn’t matter for me and trout. Good current flow, a current break, hard bottom, and decent water clarity are what to look for.
Iain Pelto
Sea Hunt Triton 160 w/ 90 ETEC “JB3”
Native Manta Ray 14
Often, the incoming brings clearer water which helps for trout if the water is otherwise dirty
2000 SeaPro 180CC w/ Yammy 115 2 stroke
1966 13’ Boston Whaler w/ Merc 25 4 stroke “Flatty”
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Thanks for the great advice advice Hairball! My most productive times have been when it is low but coming in. IE: first two hours of the incoming tide are prime in my opinion.
'94 Cobia Caribbean 174 sf
'94 Yamaha 75
I like to set up before it gets all the way to dead low in a place I know my boat will have just enough water to not be on bottom and where the fish will be spilling out of either a big main creek or several creeks (where they converge). Then as the water comes back in, I’ll follow them by poling with somebody on the bow sight casting. It’s all personal preference and your style of fishing.
Semper Fi
18’ Sterling
115 Yamaha
Big Ugly Homemade Blue Push Pole
Thanks for all the info, I’m not sure why I have such little luck on the incoming tide. I seem to be doing what you guys are saying, and figure they should be coming back in around the same areas they came out when tide was moving out. Maybe I just haven’t hit them at the right time. Guess I’ll just keep on keepin on. Thanks again.
“…Livin’ and dyin’ in three quarter time”
-Jimmy Buffett, Nautical Wheelers
As the fish shift back into a non-winter pattern, try focusing on one area or creek. Once you really learn one area, you can apply it to other spots. I mostly fish for reds, and find that they don’t stray far from their home area, you just have to figure out where and when they go into the grass and out of the grass or up the creek and down the creek. Use a tide-stage fishing notebook or something similar to note when and where you catch something and when and where you see bait. It shouldn’t be a huge surprise, but if you aren’t seeing bait there probably won’t be fish. I fish little creeks and flats mostly and you’ll find that even in the summer the red-fish are basically schooled up. They will move up and down the creeks, especially those that feed or empty into either high tide or low tide flats. I tend to think the fish go up the creeks and onto high tide flats at about the same time, but come off the high tide flats more sporadically. Fish also don’t use the same paths to go into the grass that they do when they come out of the grass. Usually one main path in and lots of different paths out. I think that is why people generally have more luck on an outgoing tide, but if you time it right you can really hit them on an incoming.