Inshore Fishing High Tide vs. Low Tide (The Complete Guide)


Both high tide and low tide can be great for inshore fishing but you have to understand how fish move based on the tides to be successful. High tides mean predators can get in the shallows and low tide means the predators have to stay in deeper channels and depressions.

The focus of this article will be on how tides affect the most popular inshore fish species like snook, tarpon, redfish, speckled trout and flounders. BUT you can find just about any other fish species based upon the information in this article.

I am an INSHORE FISHING GUIDE on the Treasure Coast of Florida. I have been fishing the mangroves, grass flats, oyster bars and beaches all over Florida for more than 40 years.

In the article below we will cover the basics to inshore fishing and how the tides affect inshore fish species. 

Let's get started.


​Watch the video below to learn more about the best tide for snook fishing.

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​How does tide affect inshore fishing?

Incoming Inshore Tides

Fish come and go with the natural fluctuations in water levels based upon the changing tides. Generally speaking, the increasing water volumes of the incoming tide gives predators an opportunity to find prey that they couldn't reach when the water was too shallow for them to swim into.

So if you are targeting a fish like a flounder that can get into water that is only 6 inches deep, then you can start fishing for them within an hour of the incoming tide. They will try and get first dibs on the small crabs, shrimp and fish that are in the extreme shallow waters around mangroves, sand bars, oyster bars and mud flats.

If you are targeting larger fish like tarpon, then you will have to wait for the upper parts of the high tide because an 80 pound fish just can't physically get into certain inshore areas until the water volume will allow them too.

The incoming tide also brings in clean water from the ocean or the gulf which tends to be clear water. This can have a major effect upon the baits, lines and leaders that you will need to use to fish efficiently.

In other words, the fish can see your lines, baits and lures better so you have to take that into consideration when choosing them.

ex. Let's say that you are targeting tarpon with live baits on the incoming tide. Tarpon have excellent eyesight so you will have to downsize your leader so that it is just strong enough to land the tarpon but not too big so they won't bite your bait.

It is better to get a bite and lose the fish vs. not getting any bites at all.

You have to keep your bait presentation as natural as you can while at the same time considering the leader size to maximize your bites when the incoming tide brings in clear and clean water.

I wrote another article on this website all about how to catch a tarpon in Florida. It covers in great detail the best baits, lures, tips and tricks to catch tarpon. You can access that article by clicking here.

Let's consider another scenario. Let's say that you are targeting redfish with dead bait, around dock pilings, during the incoming tide.

In this scenario, you will need to use a heavier leader because the redfish can easily cut the line on the barnacle encrusted dock pilings once they are hooked. You will need to muscle them away from the structure quickly.

The good news is that redfish find prey based on their superior olfactory systems more than their eyesight. In this example you can have a very heavy leader and still catch redfish with a fresh dead bait. Once again the tide has an effect upon your fishing techniques.

This is a huge generalization but fish tend to follow the incoming tide into shallow water regions inshore. These same fish tend to follow the receding outgoing tide into deeper channels and potholes.

WANT TO CATCH SNOOK, TROUT, REDFISH AND TARPON?  BOOK YOUR FISHING CHARTER TODAY!


Outgoing Inshore Tides

Generally speaking, outgoing inshore tides are stained and dirty because of freshwater run off and mud, silt and sand particles mixing with the water while it is inshore. Fish will also be finishing up their searching patterns for food in the shallows and start moving towards deeper water.

Just knowing these general ideas about fish behavior can really help you catch more fish during the outgoing tides when you are fishing inshore.

Let's assume that you are fishing a tidal creek and you know that fish will tend to move into those creeks searching for food with the incoming tide and leave those creeks with the outgoing tide.

You also know that the outgoing inshore tide water tends to be dirty versus the incoming tides. This means that you can use your favorite lures more effectively because your target species of fish can't get a good look at it. 

Lures definitely work better in dirty water scenarios.

You can also use a heavier leader when the water is stained or dirty because the fish just can't see it as well.

ex. Let's say that you want to pitch jigs with paddle tails under the mangroves of a tidal creek for big snook. You know that the water will be dirty so you will want to switch to a darker lure color (root beer).

It seems counterintuitive but dark lures work better in dirty water because they contrast better than light colored lures. So the fish can see them better. 

I wrote another article on this website all about how to catch a snook in Florida. It covers in great detail the best baits, tackle, lures, tips and tricks to catch a ton of snook. You can read that article by clicking right here.

You can also beef up your leader strength because the fish can't see the line as well either.

The tide definitely affects your lure, bait and leader choices when you are fishing inshore.

Watch the video below to see dead bait fishing for tarpon on the incoming high tide.

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Is it best to fish the incoming or outgoing tides?

Generally speaking, the outgoing tides are better to fish than the incoming tides. There are a few reasons for this:

• The water is usually dirty or stained on the outgoing tides which makes it easier to fool fish into biting your artificial lures.
• The dirty water also makes it harder for the fish to see your lines and leaders.
• The outgoing tides also sweep crabs, shrimp and fish out of their hiding places towards inlets and outflows making it easier for predators to feed upon them and for you to target those predators.

You can catch fish on both the incoming and outgoing tides but the outgoing is often better. Let's cover some of the pros and cons of fishing the incoming and outgoing tides inshore.


Temperatures and Tides

Winter

During the winter months water temperatures are key to catching fish inshore and the incoming and outgoing tides can affect temperatures dramatically.

Often the ocean water will be warmer than the inshore waters because the waves cause friction upon the water molecules making them a few degrees warmer.

Inshore fishing around inlets will often be much better during the winter when the seas are rough. Just a few degrees difference can decide whether the fish are biting or not.

Dark mud flats inshore will heat up more quickly than light sand bars. The incoming and outgoing tides will move this heated water as they move over the dark flats.

This is another great place to catch fish when the water is cold and it is all about the tides moving that warmer water around so the fish can be comfortable.

Deep water has more stable temperatures in the winter months so you will often have to fish down deep with the incoming and outgoing tides to catch fish when it is cold.

Generally speaking, you will want to fish deep early and shallow late based on the tides during the winter months.

Summer

Conversely, in the summer months the water gets too hot for the fish. The fish are often avoiding hot water so you need to find cool water to catch them in the summer months.

Generally speaking, you will want to fish shallow early and deep late. So you might want to hit the flats until 11 am or so and then start fishing deep channels, docks and bridges later as the water gets hotter.

You will want to have either the incoming or outgoing higher tides when you are fishing the flats and shallow water in the mornings.

This is the same when you are fishing around mangroves and docks too. The morning higher parts of the tide are best for getting the optimal water temperatures for fishing.

As the tide drops those fish that were in the shallows will retreat to deep water and you can still target them there. You can toss a jig at them; sink a fresh dead bait; or sink a nice live bait.

Watch the video below to see kayak snook fishing during the outgoing tide.

Is fishing good during low tide?

Inshore fishing is good during low tide as long as you fish deeper channels and pot holes for your target species. Snook, tarpon, redfish, speckled trout and many other inshore species will retreat from shallow water into deep water during low tide. Those fish will all be concentrated in small areas making it easy to catch them.

In general, fish move out of the shallows into deep water during high tide. When the tide comes back in they will head to the shallows again unless the water is too cold or too hot for them to leave deep water.

Low tide is great for fishing because you know that the fish are not in the shallows. This eliminates a lot of area that you won't need to fish. During high tide the fish can be just about anywhere so low tide cuts down on your time spent searching for fish to catch.

Your fishing techniques, lure choices and bait choices will probably change when you are fishing deep channels, docks, tidal creeks, bridges and inlets during low tide.

You will have to switch to baits and lures that can get down deep in the water column. Dead bait fishing, in deep water, during low tide is a good way to catch a ton of fish.

You already know that the fish are there because they have no where else to go. You just have to send them a bait or lure that is too good to refuse.


Dead Bait Fishing During Low Tide

My favorite dead baits are ladyfish, mullet and pinfish. Those baits are great for catching huge snook, tarpon, redfish, speckled trout, sharks and many other species of inshore fish.

PRO TIP: Make sure that the chunks of fish that you use for bait are too big for a catfish to eat. That way you won't be catching catfish all day. Catfish are better at finding dead bait than just about every other fish inshore and they will beat your target species to your baits most of the time.


Lure Fishing During Low Tide

A heavy jig with a paddle tail or a bucktail jig is a great lure choice for fishing down deep during low tide inshore. You might need a 2 1/2 ounce jig to get down deep if there is a lot of current where you are fishing.

Usually you can get away with 1/4 ounce jig heads but you will have to figure that out when you find a spot to fish. It is a good idea to have some jig heads ranging from 1/8 ounce all the way up to 2 1/2 ounces.

There can be fish in all parts of the water column in deep spots during low tide so focus on the bottom and work your way up or vice versa until you start getting bites.
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How long does high tide and low tide last?

Every high tide and low tide cycle takes 6 hours and 12.5 minutes to complete. This means that it takes that much time for the tide to go from dead high tide to dead low tide and vice versa. A lunar day lasts for 24 hours and 50 minutes which causes 2 low tides and 2 high tides every day.

Tides are created by the gravitational pull of the moon as it revolves around the Earth every day. That is why each tidal cycle (high to low and low to high) lasts for 6 hours and 12.5 minutes.

The wind can have a major effect upon tide levels. There are times inshore when the onshore wind will not allow the outgoing tide to leave. This will make it seem like the high tide lasts all day long.

Conversely, an offshore wind can push the water from inshore bays and not let the incoming tides in. This makes it seem like the low tide lasts all day long.

This effect is augmented greatly during hurricanes when a tidal surge is created pushing water from the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico inland flooding everything in its path. Some tidal surges can bring tides 20 feet higher than normal during severe hurricanes.

Watch the video below to see inshore grouper fishing during the high incoming tide.

Conclusion:

Inshore fishing is all about the tides and how the water is moving. You have got to pay attention to the incoming and outgoing high and low tides if you want to maximize your catch.

Outgoing tides are usually better for catching snook, tarpon, speckled trout and redfish with lures because the water is usually stained and dirty. Dark baits will work better during the outgoing tides and light baits will work better on the clean incoming tides.

Stronger tides are usually better for fishing inshore. Spring tides are exceptionally strong tides that move massive volumes of water during the high and low tides.

Fish love strong tides because it brings the bait to them more effectively than weak tides do.

I hope this guide to high tide and low tide fishing helps you catch more fish or at least have more fun trying.

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