Fishing the tides?

[Damned67]

Hi guys,
I'm enjoying learning so much on this site, and I have another basic question.
For a long time, I've been taught that you only fish around the high tide. Recently, a guy at work mentioned that as long as there is enough water (ie deep enough for the fish you're looking for), then you can fish anytime. Although, low tide might not be as efficient as high tide.
Anyway, my son and I have been spending some time fishing on the Manly marina wall, and plan to head out at low tide one day to get a better look at the different structure, and where the drop off to the channel is etc.
Question is this: Will there be any point in wetting the lines at low tide, primarily into the channel?

Cheers

[Benno75]

Hey Damned - my oppinion is Yes. But I'm no expert on fishing the Manly Marina Wall. Its an excellent idea to scope it out on low tide though.

Tides play an inportant part in fish feeding habits, but there are a lot of other factors. Low tide in the middle of the day might not be the best time to fish in a lot of places for a lot of species, that doesn't mean you won't catch fish at low tide.

As tides drop and estuaries, drains, lagoons etc empty, a lot of the bait pours out with an out going tide. Depending on your location this can produce great conditions for predatory fish. A lot of guys like to target flathead on the last of the run out, because as creeks and drains empty and chanels narrow the bait is often more concentrated making it easier for flathead to feed, in turn the flathead congregate in smaller areas which makes them easier to target.

Thats just one example. Other guys rate the changing light at dusk and dawn to be a more important factor. Wind and barometer changes can also affect feeding habits. There are a lot more things to consider than just high tide. But it really depends on where and what you're fishing for, cause a making tide close to the top can be ideal conditions, especially if its combined with other factors such as: close to dawn or dusk, with the right weather conditions, right time of year, right moon phase, fresh/live local bait etc etc

[Damned67]

Benno,
Thanks for that response. That's a prime example of why I keep browsing this site. There's so much information for a beginner like me, and even if my questions might seem a bit obvious to everyone else, they always have someone providing some thoughtful insight.
Thanks again!

[kingtin]

My take on it, for what it's worth ;D

Low water = smaller volume of water so the fish are (mathematically), more concentrated. Benno just about sums it up for species such as flathead.

Fishing theory is made up of generalisations and fisher folk can sometimes forget the exceptions to the rule. It is generally thought that fish move up with the tides onto the banks, which probably holds true if those banks contain yabbies and other feed. If you have observed the banks at low water (all the more reason to fish at low) you may see that some are barren and hold little food, so isn't it more likely that the fish will remain in the feeding zone, below low water? You would think so, but other factors may come into play. ie the bits of Chain Bank that I have seen exposed appear devoid of food, but I have caught some of my best fish there at high, or approaching high, because the predatory fish were using the bank to ball up baitfish that they had herded up against the bank.

My take, is that state of tide has less to do with movement of fish, but more to do with movement of water. It is a generalisation that "no flow, no go" IOW, slack water is a waste of time. Try telling that to those who fish Curtin reef or Bulwer ledge regularly, and even many areas at the pin. Sometimes the flow is just too much for the fish to feed (they are programmed to conserve energy), and the only time they can feed is when that current backs off at slack water.

Personally, If I was to take note of when tides, moon, weather etc was instrumental in catch, considering my deckies shifts and my washing and ironing duties, ::);D I'd probably never get to fish. I just go when I can, where I can. A catch is a bonus.

kev

[Benno75]

Couple of very good points Kingtin. 1) There are always exceptions to the rules with fishnig, and 2) anytime you've got time is a good time to fish.

[Niko--]

At the end of the day Damned, fish are caught throughout the day and night at all times. I think we are talking about what is the most productive time of the day to fish and that depends largely on tide and dusk/dawn. I would always fish dusk/dawn over high/low tide - if these happen to coincide...great. If I happen to get a high tide a few hours after dusk just before a new moon......I'm off to chase jews.

Ultimately you need to think about what fish your likely to catch as this would influence when I go fishing or what I fish for.

I'm not an expert by any means but at a rough guess Jewfish prefer change of tide, bream prefer a rising tide as it gives them access to oyster leases etc, whiting prefer moving water and flathead I would also chase on outgoing tide into low tide. Pelagics like tailor/kingies/salmon tend to focus around dusk/dawn.

Once again we are talking about how productive your likely to be as Jewfish can be caught mid tide at 2pm in the afternoon on a 2 day old pillie, but you'd be the luckiest SOB on the earth to get that.

Having said that.....if I haven't fished for a few weeks I'd be tempted to cast lures in a bloody pool.....one time I went prospecting a I saw what looked to be a 70cm+ flattie sunning herself on a sand bank - there I was hands in pocket cursing everyone for a rod and SP.

Niko