Should I fish before or after the high tide?

Short answer

Start fishing about two hours before high tide and continue for one to two hours after it. This gives you a chance to fish the last of the incoming tide, the change at the top and the beginning of the outgoing tide. Usually slack tide is the worst (high or low water). The most productive period will depend on the location and species, but this is a reliable starting point.

Why this happens

An incoming tide carries bait and food into estuaries, across flats and around structure. Fish often move into shallower areas with the rising water because they can reach feeding grounds that were previously too shallow.

Around high tide, the current slows and may briefly stop. This can make some places easier to fish, but the lack of water movement can also reduce feeding activity. Fishing may improve again when the outgoing tide begins moving bait away from mangroves, drains, flats and creek mouths.

The best stage of the tide changes between locations. A shallow flat may fish well near high tide, while a creek mouth may become more productive after the tide turns and starts draining. On reefs and deeper structure, the amount of current can be more important than whether the tide is rising or falling.

What to change next trip

• Arrive approximately two hours before high tide instead of waiting until the tide has already peaked.
• Fish the incoming tide, the change and at least the first hour of the outgoing tide.
• Move shallower as the water rises and concentrate on drains, creek mouths and drop-offs as it falls.
• Look for bait movement, current lines and feeding birds instead of relying only on the tide table.
• Record when the bites occur so you can identify the most productive stage at that particular location.
• Compare several trips before deciding that a spot only works on one tide.

The tide is only one part of the equation. Wind, water clarity, current strength, bait and time of day can all change when the fish begin feeding.