Which do you trust the most?

Saltwater Offshore Discussion
1

I’ve been meaning to ask this and since there is a thread out there about sea conditions and wave heights, it jogged my curiosity…

When you are planning a trip, which site do you trust the most for guessing sea condtions?

Reefcast
http://fish-here.com/ReefCast-Offshore-Weather-Forecast.html

Windfinder
http://www.windfinder.com/forecast/charleston_se_buoy

Sailflow
http://ww.sailflow.com/windandwhere.iws?regionID=1764&location_id=51862&ISection=Forecast+Graphs

Buoy 41004 ( I know…this one’s real time)
http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=41004

I’ve noticed that sometimes Reefcast and Windfinder can be completely in disagreement with each other. I’ll look at Windfinder and my friend will look at Reefcast and we’ll be a loggerheads about which has the best prediction.

So which do y’all find the most reliable besides real time data from the buoy when planning an offshore trip?

“I am constantly amazed at the stupidity of the general public.”
~my dad

Equipment:
190cc Sea Pro w/130 Johnson
1- 20 year old (boy of leisure)
1 - 17 year old (fishing maniac)
1 - wife (The Warden)

ECFC

2

Buoys don’t lie.

For the forecast, I read the forcast. Best info in my opinion.

http://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&issuedby=CHS&product=AFD&format=CI&version=1&glossary=1&highlight=off

It is updated 6 times per day, minimum. You can highlight the difference from run to run to note inconsistencies and take out individual forecaster error.

www.JigSkinz.com

3

Sailflow and 41004, I don’t bother with anything else usually.

Redfish Baron Extraordinaire

www.baturinphotography.com

4

^
Same here.

However the info is only as good as the person interpreting it. If you do not know how wind direction, speed and tides all affect the seas then most of the info out there is no good. Proper knowledge is just as important as proper info.

5

I trust Trumps wallet

6

Isobars if you can get a good detailed map we use them still on the old school weather fax if the lines get close it will blow like saturday

7

Care to expand a bit on tidal effect for offshore conditions? I’ve always thought that a tide moving out in a direction against a wind or sea will create bigger waves.(East wind hits a falling tide) On the same line of thinking it would be reverse for a following tidal direction. A rising tide moving with the wind and dominate sea direction would tend to lay things down. Is this accurate? How about as you get further out? Say 20 miles offshore. Seems to have less effect.

quote:
Originally posted by bmarvil

^
Same here.

However the info is only as good as the person interpreting it. If you do not know how wind direction, speed and tides all affect the seas then most of the info out there is no good. Proper knowledge is just as important as proper info.

8

I like reefcast and the buoy. For reefcaat though you have to be able to read and understand the extra wave info and ensemble graphs in addition to the standard one for it to be worth anything imo.

www.militaryappreciationday.org

9

Windfinder Pro (always check Frying Pan Shoals and Edisto Buoy) and the isobar/windfield maps from Wunderground (can cycle in 3hr increments to see wind/weather leading up to and after your fishing day to have a better idea where your waves will be coming from and if you were to have to stay an extra day what you can expect and when) then the NOAA forecast last to make sure everything is in line.

Do not tell fish stories where the people know you; but particularly, don’t tell them where they know the fish.

  • More Maxims of Mark, Johnson, 1927

31’ Contender
“Touche”
250 HPDIs