For onshore anglers fishing off the beach, rocks, jetties and piers as well as in bays, estuaries and lagoons, there is one important factor that can often dictate the measure of their success or failure; the movement of the tides, which is dictated by the variable gravitational forces created by the moon and the sun. The highest and lowest tidal swings occur during the full moon phase, while the most minimal tidal variance takes place during the quarter phase.

 When it comes to this type of onshore fishing, one of the most valuable tools that any shore bound angler can have in their possession is an accurate tide table.

There was once a time when just about the only way that shore fishing enthusiasts could acquire and keep current with this type of vital information was with one of the small tide chart booklets distributed by local bait and tackle stores. Luckily, however, the Internet has changed all that, and today precise tidal data for virtually any coastal venue on the planet can easily be accessed with the simple click of a mouse.

It is always a bit amusing to me when someone that I encounter who is fishing unsuccessfully from shore with no real fix on which way the tide is moving seems puzzled as to why they have not caught anything. The simple fact is, fish use each incoming tide cycle to allow the food to come to them, and as a result tend to be more actively aggressive during that period. Within about an hour after the high tide has peaked and the water begins to ebb, the bite generally slacks off for many species.

Corresponding tides will occur approximately 50 minutes later each day.

Tides are important to all saltwater anglers, but are certainly of no greater interest to any given group than to those who regularly fish the surf. Veteran surf anglers usually know their own local territory well, and can often predict in advance which tides are best for different locations in their area. As a rule of thumb, however, it is best to arrive at your chosen fishing spot at least an hour and a half before the high tide is scheduled to peak and plan to continue fishing for about another hour thereafter.  This should allow you get optimum productivity from the cycle.

While working the incoming tide is generally the most productive time to fish, those who have the luxury of living in the same area where they are fishing have the advantage of being able to visit those spots when the tides is low, as well as during spring tide phases in the fall and winter months when ultra-low minus tides occur. This not only gives anglers a great opportunity to gather quality natural baits like clams, sand worms, mussels and small octopus, it also allows for the identification of otherwise submerged structures such as rocks, reefs, holes and depressions in the sand that can be well used later on when the tide peaks.

Therefore, just as the offshore skipper looks to lunar phases to try and determine the activity of tuna or other pelagic, blue water gamefish species, the knowledgeable onshore angler can refer to an accurate tidal chart to help them find the very best times and tides to fish more successfully.