High tide or low tide vs. Wind

[Explorer21]

I need some input from our experienced west end anglers. When making a decision to go fish a particular day, are you focusing on tides or wind? I know most will say both, but what is more important?

I know this is a dumb question to most of you, but I am trying to figure out why some people head out early in the morning versus heading out in the early evening.

[Milkjug]

Mostly the wind, it can get pretty uncomfortable on a kayak in 15+mph, and it makes it harder to feel strikes and control the lure.

Tide is nice, but it's really current that helps the fish feed. You can find wind driven currents around points, through cuts and all that if you look around

[TTU Wader]

I guess I'm more focused on wind. The wind has kept me off the water plenty of times, but I've never not gone fishing because the tide wasn't moving that day.

[caz]

yep i hate wind.. but if you waited to fish galveston when you got a decent wind, you wouldnt fish many days

[majek_maniac]

Another vote for wind. The wind dictates where I am going to fish and how I am going to do it. Tides might effect when I go out, but I generally get out early and fish before, during and after the tide (there is almost always one during mornign fishing hours)

Good question though, I am probably wrong, thats why I never catch chit!!! Good luck.

M.M.

[bountyhunter]

When I can catch a day where there is a good outgoing tide and light winds I'm a very happy camper.

However, wind is the first thing I check before planning trip. When I get a day off though and make up my mind to go, then I'm fishing no matter what. Where I go may depend a lot on what the wind is doing that day.

[imhammer]

Tides

The fishermen care about the wind, the fish don't care about it. They will eat whether it is windy or not.
The tide on the other hand makes a big difference. I prefer the couple of hours around the high tide. Either incoming or outgoing as long as it is moving.

I need some input from our experienced west end anglers. When making a decision to go fish a particular day, are you focusing on tides or wind? I know most will say both, but what is more important?

I know this is a dumb question to most of you, but I am trying to figure out why some people head out early in the morning versus heading out in the early evening.

[Redfishr]

Tide only, the fish dont care if its windy but they will or wont bite according to the tides...
But dead calm aint my cup of tea AT ALL.
I'd rather 20 mph than 0 and mirror water.
I've never let the wind (under 30 mph) stop a fishing trip, but I have launched at different times of the day to fish the tide....in or out

[Explorer21]

Thanks for all the input. Not to drag this out, but for example, today's high tide is 12:03 (San Luis Pass area), so would you head before or after 12:00? When you say outgoing tide, I am assuming you mean low tide. Again, I know this is a dumb question for some, but I am trying to figure all this out to become studs on the water like most of you!

[Explorer21]

Im Hammer, I now read your thread a little closer and you say.. I would head out a couple of hours before high tide, which does answer my question. In other words anytime around a tide change is the best time to go and if wind conditions are good, that is even better but does not make a difference to the fish, only the person fishing.

[45 ACP]

I look at wind first. You can always go somewhere in the bay and find the tide moving. Different locations have different tide times.

Thanks for all the input. Not to drag this out, but for example, today's high tide is 12:03 (San Luis Pass area), so would you head before or after 12:00? When you say outgoing tide, I am assuming you mean low tide.

If its high tide at 12:03, that means the tide will be incoming up unitil 12:03, then it will be HIGH TIDE, or no movement, then roughly an hour or so after 12:03 you should start seeing some outgoing tide movement, as the tide will begin to fall again until the posted LOW TIDE time. Or something like that ..........

[aqua pimp]

But dead calm aint my cup of tea AT ALL.
I'd rather 20 mph than 0 and mirror water.

Amen on that!!!! I hate that slick water

AQUA PIMP

[Explorer21]

45, thanks for the addtional information, this really clears things up for me.

[Explorer21]

Aqua Pimp, all your can say is Amen to that after the Corona I gave you Just playing, I hope all is going well and let's get together some time.

[aqua pimp]

Not only do you want to look at your tide times but also look at the amount of water that is being moved between your tides. From low to high if you have only .2 that ain't much water flow (very weak flow). Now if you have something like 1.5, thats a good tidal movement. Especially in a short amount of time. The winds can slow the tides down too. A hard south wind is going to slow a outgoing tide down some and make the incomming tide stronger. Tides can determine where I fish sometimes but the strong winds determines where I fish all the time.

AQUA PIMP