This is the complete guide to fishing low tide or high tide. This post is meant to enlighten you on the subject of Low and High Tide. By the end of this, you will be able to determine which tide is better for you to fish. You will learn every part of the tidal swing and specific techniques to help you catch more fish!
For the longest time, I fished high tide because it was safe to drive anywhere in the creeks. I never really thought about what it meant to fish low tide. During high tide, I struggled to find fish. After about a year or so, I decided that I was going to give low tide a shot. Low tide changed my entire outlook on fishing in general, I have learned so much and in this post, I am going to share with you what I have learned and what I do when it comes to tides in order to catch more big fish.
How Do Tides Work?
The simple answer is that tides are controlled by the moon. The moon’s gravitational pull causes something called tidal force. It puts pressure on the earth which can bulge out the water on the side that is closest to the moon. The moon phase is very important.
The different shades of the moon will change the height of the tide. For example, there are usually two high tides per day, and the earth rotates through two tidal bulges every lunar day, which is every 24 hours and 50 minutes. If you have a full moon the tide is going to be higher and lower for that period of time.
Certain places in the United States have different tidal ranges. For example, where I am from in Florida tides vary from a few feet to 5-6 feet. While in places like Alaska, the tidal range is up to 20ft.
There are tide charts on the internet, you can search them and they will pop up in your area. The tide chart that I use is an app on my phone.
Fishing The First Of The Outgoing Tide:
The first of the outgoing tide is when the tide is high and it is just starting to push out. Fish typically do not like stagnant water because of the water temperatures and because there is less oxygen.
When there is slack tide and zero water movement, the predatory fish or game fish search for prey. They must swim around and actively hunt their prey. As the tide begins to move so does the small fish and/or bait back towards the main river and or ocean.
Larger fish are going to start moving off of the shallow water they were hunting in and are going to stage up in order to feed during this outgoing tide. I have always found that I catch more fish once that tide is moving.
For example, a redfish may be cruising a flat that only has water at high tide. Therefore once the water begins to push out gamefish will begin to start heading into choke points, where the bait must go through. A choke point is an area where bait fish and shrimp are funneled past places where game fish could be held.
The best places to look for choke points are deeper holes, oyster bars, troughs, and deeper water in general. Therefore a strong current is good and if you are in a boat, kayak, or on land looking for places where there could be deeper holes and inshore structures such as bends in a creek, rock piles, oyster bars, and docks. In these areas, predatory fish can ambush prey. They are going to be sitting in current breaks and waiting for prey to come by. Any artificial or live bait is good at this time.
Last Of The Outgoing Tide
The Las of the Outgoing Tide is my favorite time to fish. I love fishing from the last of the outgoing tide to the first of the incoming tide. It is the best time to fish in my opinion.
This is the best tide to fish because the fish are concentrated. Therefore all of the bigger fish are going to be concentrated in deeper water such as deep holes because of the lack of water. Many times you will have all the local species in these holes.
During the last of the outgoing tide, there will still be a moving tide, however, it will not be as strong as the beginning and middle. During this time you will see the redfish pushed in super shallow water and they can be sight fished for the most part.
This is very helpful when searching for spots. if you find a deep hole or an inshore structure that you think will hold quality fish, I recommend fishing it at low tide in the winter. In lower temperatures, fish will congregate and stack up and this will be your best chance to see if that hole or structure has potential.
When I talk about a deeper hole, I mean a flat that could be around 3-6 ft deep and then drops down to 9ft or 12ft. The fish will ambush prey coming over that edge of the roll down. Sometimes these deeper holes are just deeper channels that boats use. Therefore when looking for that new spot I always check the water depth and for bottom structures such as oysters or rocks. I then fish on my bottom recorder if I have one.
My Inshore Fishing Set Up:
Redfish on a mudflat can be tricky if the water is shallow and clear. I run 15lb fluorocarbon and then I either use a mud minnow or live shrimp weightless or with a 1/8 jighead. I then try to get it in the vicinity of the redfish where they will find it. It may take them a minute or two but they will find it.
If I were to use an artificial bait, I would use a voodoo shrimp or Gulp on a light jighead and attempt to drag it in front of their faces. Flounder, Seatrout, Black Drum, and Sheepshead will also be on the flats, so be ready to encounter them as well. The best setup I have found for overall fishing marshes is live shrimp on a jighead and just covering water with them. Here’s what I always take with me when I am fishing the outgoing tide.
- 17lb Berkley Fluorocarbon – This is the Fluorocarbon that I use, I highly recommend it. It’s great quality for a cheap price. For more information on Fluorocarbon Fluorocarbon Fishing Line vs. Monofilament Fishing Line post!
- 15lb Diamond Braid – This is the Braid I use, it has smooth casting and a durable line.
- Voodoo Shrimp – This is a great bait that mimics a live shrimp. Game fish love them.
- Berkley Gulp – This is the best artificial lure I use, you cannot beat them.
- Yozuri Topwater – This is the only topwater I use, it has solid hooks and walks great.
Fishing Dead Low Tide:
When it is Dead Low Tide I fish where there is some sort of water movement. I rarely fish in stagnant water. If you are in a place where it is dead low tide and the water is stagnant, you will want to move around till you find some moving water.
Now, during dead low tide just like the last of the outgoing, there will be a few species of fish cruising your edges and stuff like that. What I have begun to notice in the winter months is that there are schools of redfish in shallow water hunting mullet, shrimp, crabs, and other baitfish. When I say schools I don’t mean a school of 30 fish right next to each other, but there will be like 5-7 here and there, and some others spread out over about 100 yards.
Fishing for these fish sometimes takes patience, because it is all about presentation and stealth. Some of the best lures are soft plastics that imitate the prey these fish are after. I listed them above.
The exception to fishing dead low tide is if you were to find a deeper hole with some moving water, then you should hook up pretty quickly. In these deeper holes, there are more than just redfish and trout. Many times there will be Black Drum, Sheepshead, Flounder, Mangrove Snapper, Croakers, Whiting, and many other saltwater species. Therefore when fishing these holes and inshore structures be prepared to get a mixed bag of game fish!
Another reason why I like the outgoing tide and dead low tide is that it is very visual, you learn about fish behaviors because sometimes you can see it. The best time to throw a topwater is in the morning as the sun is just coming up. Top water lures are fantastic at low tide in coastal areas. As an angler you learn more about fish behaviors.
If you were to fish a marsh at a high tide the redfish or trout try to push bait against a creek bank they can’t, and the mullet or shrimp will scatter into the grass. However, at low tide, there is no place to run. Therefore topwater during a low tide is a great way to cover some water in the early morning or late evenings.
Fishing The First Of The Incoming Tide:
The first of the incoming tide is the first quarter of the incoming tide. The first of the incoming and last of the outgoing is the best tide to fish in my opinion. The tide has bottomed out and now the water is flowing into the creeks. This is also called a rising tide. Water from the bigger river or ocean will push into the creeks.
During this time of the tidal change, I still fish the same as the outgoing or low tide. I look for deep holes with structures and fish them. Bait fish and prey will start to wash over these areas and the game fish will begin to feed. I stay away from stagnant water and search for some sort of moving water. A general rule is moving water is best. If you were to watch an oyster bar or sandbar during the rising tide it will slowly be taken over by water. Many species will push their luck and will sometimes run in super shallow water looking for food because they know that they will be covered up by water. They will pin bait fish up against the mud walls and oyster bars and eat them.
The Last Of The Incoming Tide:
My thoughts on the last of the incoming tide are that at low tide fish are concentrated and these fish are now moving to explore or search for food that is rising around the oyster bars. Yes, they will still stage up in deeper holes, but these game fish are no longer concentrated. Some fish will stay in the holes, but others will be searching in areas that were dry because of the tide. A technique that I have found successful is that on the last of the incoming tide, I throw a topwater above the oyster bed and walk them across.
This rising tide is great for exploring new areas and reaching places that you might not have felt comfortable going to during low tide. It is harder to find concentrated fish, but a good place to start is inshore structures because fish will still congregate near them.
Many times there will be a flood tide with a full moon. There is also a spring tide that usually has a higher tide and a lower low tide. Flood tides are fun because many people use fly rods and spinning rods to catch game fish on the flats. The ffish push up into the sometimes dry land looking for snails and other crustaceans.
Looking For Spots To Fish:
If I am in a new area and I am trying to dissect a fishing area, the first thing that I look at is probably Google Earth or some sort of map of the specific location. It’s great to be able to see it from a bird’s eye view. I will look for bends in creeks, docks, outflows, and bridges. From there I will try to launch my boat during low tide. I will be able to see certain landmarks, inshore structures, deeper channels, and holes during low tide.
Once I find that area, I fish it hard and cover the area using either artificial lures or live bait. For best results, I use live bait such as shrimp or mud minnows on a Carolina rig or jig head. I bounce them along the bottom and cover the water. I constantly check my bottom record to see the water depth and if there is bait there.
When you think that you may have found a hole or spot that is going to be a good spot to fish, I recommend fishing it at different times of the tidal swing. Some tides might be better for that specific spot. If you found a spot and you are only throwing artificial lures, try throwing some live shrimp and or some mud minnows just to see if there are other species there. Black Drum and Sheepshead rarely eat artificial lures so a live shrimp would be a good choice once you’ve found a new hole.
Other Factors:
Some other factors can affect fishing the tides.
Weather:
Weather conditions are important, but might not be as important as you might think. I look for clear water that is moving. The wind is an important factor, if you are on the east coast of the United States and have an extremely strong East wind, many times that will delay the outgoing tide because it is pushing the water in. The tide will not be as prevalent for a while and fishing might be a little different.
Rain and fronts can also affect the tides. In my experience, pre-cold front fishing is the best. Fish always feed before a front comes in. Cold fronts can be tricky because before they hit the fishing is very good. However, post-cold fronts can be tricky and fish are less willing to bite. Now I fish when I can. For post-cold front days, I use a lot of live bait and fish them slower.
Time of Year:
The best time to find new spots to fish is between the Last of the Outgoing and the First of the Incoming. In the wintertime, Redfish and other local species are going to be in those deep holes in the creeks.
Time of Day:
The best time of day to fish that I have found is when dead low tide is around 9-10 am. If you can get up before sunrise and fish topwater lures on the outgoing tide, it is great for fishing species like Seatrout and Redfish. Always try to cover water when getting up to the first deep hole you plan to fish. Many times you will find fish cruising right before they enter the hole.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Yes, in my opinion low tide is best time to fish because it concentrates the game fish and can be found quicker.
Low tide is better because it concentrates game fish as well as bait fish.
Yes, it is great fishing and looking for new areas.
I love the Yozuri Topwater as my early morning topwater bait, then Berkley Gulp on a 1/4-1/8th ounce jighead depending on water depth.
No, the tide changes every 6 hours and will sometimes have 4 tidal changes a day.
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