Best tide for surf fishing: high vs. low, incoming vs. outgoing

"High tide or low tide?" is one of the most-searched surf fishing questions, and the honest answer is "it depends." This guide explains what it depends on, so you can read a tide chart and make your own call for the beach in front of you. It is written for East Coast surfcasters (Jersey Shore, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and the Outer Banks), but the ideas work anywhere with sandy beaches and a regular tide.

Why the tide matters on a beach

On an ocean beach the tide changes three things that fish care about:

• Depth over structure. Sandbars, troughs (the deeper water between the beach and a bar) and cuts (gaps in a bar) hold different amounts of water at different stages. A trough that is knee-deep at low tide may be over your head at high tide.
• Water movement. A rising or falling tide moves water, sand and bait along the beach and through the cuts. Predators often set up where moving water delivers food to them.
• Where the waves break. As the water rises and falls, the waves break in different places, which changes where the whitewater, the foam lines and the clearer water are.

Around each high and low the water level barely changes for a while. Many anglers find the bite slows at that point, then picks up again once the water starts moving.

High tide vs. low tide

High tide

More water on the beach lets fish move into troughs and close to shore, sometimes within a short cast. On steep beaches, where deep water is already close, many surfcasters prefer the higher half of the tide. The trade-off is less beach to stand on, and at spring-tide highs the water can reach the dune line on narrow beaches.

Low tide

Low tide is the best time to scout. With less water you can see the bars, troughs and cuts you'll want to fish when the water comes back. On flat, gently sloping beaches low tide can also concentrate fish in the deeper troughs and cuts that still hold water. If you wade at low tide, be careful: the National Weather Service notes that on beaches with a tide range of less than about 6 feet, rip currents often flow faster for an hour or two either side of low tide, when more waves break over the bars (NWS rip current science).

Incoming vs. outgoing tide

On an open beach the difference between the rising and falling tide is mostly about depth over the structure you are fishing. It is worth noting which one your spot prefers, but water level matters more than direction.

Near inlets, river mouths and back-bay drains, direction matters much more. A falling tide drains water, and the bait in it, out of the bays and marshes, which is why many anglers favor the outgoing tide at inlets. A rising tide pushes clean ocean water in. Remember that in inlets the current can keep running for a while after the predicted high or low water level, so check NOAA's tidal current predictions as well as the tide chart. Jetties are slippery and get swept by waves; fish them only when conditions are safe.

Notes for striped bass and fluke

Striped bass

NOAA describes Atlantic striped bass as fish that live in the ocean but spawn in fresh or brackish water. Some migrate north and south along the coast seasonally, and adults eat almost any small fish, plus crabs and squid (NOAA Fisheries). From the beach that means following the bait and the seasonal movements, and fishing the parts of the tide that push bait into the troughs and cuts. Many surfcasters target low-light hours (dawn, dusk and night) and like a moving tide that lines up with them. Our beach pages show first light and last light right next to the tide times to make that easy.

Striped bass are managed by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and the states, and NOAA notes that federal waters (3 to 200 miles offshore) are closed to all striped bass fishing. From the beach you are in state waters, so check your state's current size limits, bag limits and seasons before you keep a fish.

Fluke (summer flounder)

Summer flounder (NOAA lists "fluke" as another common name) lie on the bottom partly buried and ambush prey as it passes, according to NOAA. Adults move inshore into shallow coastal waters and estuaries in late spring and early summer, and back offshore in the fall (NOAA Fisheries). Because they wait for food to come to them, fluke anglers usually want enough current to carry a bait or jig along the bottom, through troughs and along the edges of bars and channels. That makes moving water, and the stretch either side of high tide when troughs are full, a sensible place to start from the beach. Recreational fluke rules are typically adjusted every year and are set state by state, so check the current regulations.

Everything else

Bluefish, kingfish, drum, pompano and other surf species have their own habits and seasons, which vary along the coast. The same principles still apply: find the structure at low tide, fish it when the water is moving, and keep notes.

Big tides vs. small tides

Not every tide moves the same amount of water. Around new and full moons, NOAA explains, tide ranges are larger (spring tides). Around the quarter moons they are smaller (neap tides), about a week later (NOAA: spring and neap tides). Bigger ranges mean stronger currents in inlets and more change on the beach, which can help or hurt depending on your spot. See king tides, spring tides and neap tides explained for a month of real data.

Wind, waves and water temperature

The tide is only one piece. Wind direction and strength, wave size and water temperature all change where fish are and whether you can fish at all. Every beach page shows the nearest NOAA NDBC buoy's wave height, period and water temperature, plus observed or forecast wind, next to the tide. In general, rough, discolored surf and very clear, flat water fish differently. Note what works on your beach.

A simple plan for your next trip

1. Scout at low tide. Walk your beach near low tide (or look from an elevated spot) and note bars, troughs, cuts and any structure such as jetties or groins.
2. Pick a window. On the tide chart, mark the last two hours of the rising tide and the first two of the falling tide. If you are near an inlet, look at the falling tide and the current predictions.
3. Overlap it with light. A moving tide at dawn or dusk is worth planning around.
4. Check the conditions. Look at wind, waves and the rip current forecast. Skip the trip, or fish somewhere protected, if it's unsafe.
5. Keep a log. Write down the tide stage, height, wind, water temperature and what you caught. After a season you'll know your beach's tide better than any rule of thumb.

Some East Coast tide pages to start with: Long Beach Island, NJ, Sandy Hook, NJ, Cape May, NJ, Rehoboth Beach, DE, Ocean City, MD, Virginia Beach, VA, Nags Head, NC and Carolina Beach, NC. Or see the regional guides for the Jersey Shore and the Outer Banks.

Licenses and rules

Each East Coast state has its own saltwater license or registration rules. Two examples: New Jersey requires a free annual saltwater registration for anglers 16 and older (NJ Fish & Wildlife), and North Carolina requires a Coastal Recreational Fishing License for anglers 16 and older in coastal waters (NC Division of Marine Fisheries). Check your state's fish and wildlife agency for current rules, size and bag limits before you go.

FAQ

Is high tide or low tide better for surf fishing?

Neither is always better. Moving water usually beats slack water, and many surfcasters start with the last two hours of the rising tide through the first hours of the falling tide. Steep beaches often fish better on higher water; flat beaches with bars and troughs can fish well lower in the tide. Learn which stage your beach prefers.

Is incoming or outgoing tide better for fishing?

On an open beach the water level matters more than the direction. Near inlets and back-bay drains, the outgoing tide carries bait out of the bays and is often preferred, while the incoming tide brings in cleaner ocean water. Check tidal current predictions at inlets, because the current can lag the tide.

What is the best tide for striped bass from the beach?

There's no single best tide, but a moving tide that lines up with low light (dawn, dusk or night) is a popular choice for striped bass in the surf. Scout troughs and cuts at low tide, fish them as the water moves, and check your state's striped bass rules before keeping a fish.

What is the best tide for fluke (summer flounder)?

Fluke ambush prey from the bottom, so most anglers want enough current to move a bait or jig along the bottom. Moving water around high tide, when troughs and channel edges are full, is a sensible starting point from the beach. Rules for fluke change yearly and vary by state.

Should I fish during slack tide?

Slack water, around the turn of the tide, is often the slowest time because the water and bait stop moving. It can still produce, especially at inlets where fish change position as the current turns, and it's a good time to re-rig or move spots.

Do moon phases matter for surf fishing?

Moon phases change the size of the tide. Around new and full moons tides are bigger (spring tides), with stronger currents; around quarter moons they are smaller (neap tides). Whether that helps depends on your spot, so note the moon phase in your fishing log.

Sources

• NOAA Fisheries species pages: Atlantic striped bass, Summer flounder.
• National Weather Service, Rip current science (tidal modulation of rip currents).
• NOAA National Ocean Service, What are spring and neap tides?; NOAA Tidal current predictions.
• NJ Fish & Wildlife, Saltwater Recreational Registry; NC DEQ, Recreational fishing licenses.