How long after "high tide" does the tide begin to ebb?
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Right tide times
Well the tides are always tricky you have gps machines that have the tide charts plus the books on it. But in my past experience I do the leg work. What I do is go the closest point where the NOAA tells the tides. Then I will head to the next point and see if the tide will flood earlier or later. The tides charts are not 100% correct in every area except the ones stated. So by knowing the closest tide point which is given you can figure out the tides in different areas. Yes it is a pain but this is a great way of knowing the tides and times. I have found the tides to be off by 1 to 2 hrs. at times so if its that important to you find out for yourself.
Well the tides are always tricky you have gps machines that have the tide charts plus the books on it. But in my past experience I do the leg work. What I do is go the closest point where the NOAA tells the tides. Then I will head to the next point and see if the tide will flood earlier or later. The tides charts are not 100% correct in every area except the ones stated. So by knowing the closest tide point which is given you can figure out the tides in different areas. Yes it is a pain but this is a great way of knowing the tides and times. I have found the tides to be off by 1 to 2 hrs. at times so if its that important to you find out for yourself.
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Every area is diffrent and changes
the start of the tide is always diffrent.that's something you need to figure out in the area you need to know!
There is not a set period of time for slack water. So it works the same as I mention above. Do you know how to read a tide book? This will give you a refernce to compare. But to pin point this is all trial and error!Tides
Great software for palm hand helds
the start of the tide is always diffrent.that's something you need to figure out in the area you need to know!
There is not a set period of time for slack water. So it works the same as I mention above. Do you know how to read a tide book? This will give you a refernce to compare. But to pin point this is all trial and error!Tides
Great software for palm hand helds
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322 Posts
Hi Logic,
High slack water or low slack water could last 20 minutes or it could last as long as an hour, depending on a variety of factors that vary from area to area. I believe "low" slack water lasts longer than "high" slack water.
The Tidal Current Tables, published by NOAA, contain daily predictions of the times of slack water and maximum flood and ebb current velocities for various reference stations. Check out the NOAA Co-OPs Website at http://co-ops.nos.noaa.gov/
And I also found this interesting program that can help you predict slack water times in your area:
http://tbone.biol.sc.edu/tide/index.html
High slack water or low slack water could last 20 minutes or it could last as long as an hour, depending on a variety of factors that vary from area to area. I believe "low" slack water lasts longer than "high" slack water.
The Tidal Current Tables, published by NOAA, contain daily predictions of the times of slack water and maximum flood and ebb current velocities for various reference stations. Check out the NOAA Co-OPs Website at http://co-ops.nos.noaa.gov/
And I also found this interesting program that can help you predict slack water times in your area:
http://tbone.biol.sc.edu/tide/index.html
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123 Posts
The confusion is generally between tide and current. Lets take an example - say in fire island inlet, back by the bridge. Let's say the High Tide time is 2pm. This means the water will reach its highest level at 2 pm and will rise no higher. However, the water will continue to flow in (this is your current) for quite a while longer after 2pm. The period of time the water current continues to move in after the High Tide time varies from place to place. (In a minute I get to how to determine this time pecisely)At Fire Island inlet, for instance, the current may continue to move in for 2 hours after the High tide time. At Jones it may be 1hour. Back by the light it may be 2 hrs 15 minutes. The same is true for Low Tide. Outflowing water (current) may continue for quite some time after Low Tide, again depending on the location. What you want to know, especially if you are fishing the inlets, is when is High Water Slack and Low Water Slack. High Water Slack is the time (and it is precise) the the inflowing water (current) stops briefly before slowly reversing direction and starts to flow out. This is sometime referred to as the change of tide - a misnomer since it is really a change in current direction. Remember, this is not the same time as High or Low tide (except on the Ocean Beaches)The longer the time after high water slack, the faster the current will move (up to half way throug its cycle). This is when you start seeing your rips. The current will continue to increase in speed for half its period, then start to gradually slow as it approaches Low Water slack, where again it stops moving completelyfor a very brief time before reversing direction and the cycle starts over. To determine the time of High and Low Water Slack - the Nor'east magazine use to publish the time each week for all the inlets and bays,( this was the best and easiest way, but i don't think they do it any longer. Don't know why.) The Long Island Fisherman has a table that helps you calculate the times for certain general areas. Other than that, I don't know where you can find the exact times. Anyone out know??
186logic...this question cannot have one definitive answer due to many factors. Let me give you a example. In the Sandy Hook Pilots tide book, which is the tidal reference guide for shipping in the NY area, it clearly states that the 'North River is running flood 15 feet below the surface 1 hour before turing from ebb to flood at surface'. Now i would say this is roughly a constant for the North River...but Neap tides, storms, strong winds and other environmental anomalies may change the 15 minute period, either longer or shorter. I mentioned earlier, that you can have a stated incoming tide for the ocean, yet, still have a outgoing tide at the stated incoming time! We have seen this some many times...and you can have a incoming tide on top and outgoing water on the bottom or vice-ser-ver-sa.
In you question, you are confusing tide with current....tide is height, current is movement....what we call a SLACK period, is what you are looking for. This does not mean that the waters in a given area does not move...there is the beginning of slight movement in the opposite direction at this time. Many areas do not give a slack water period, but you try to find the closest station to these points, and make slight adjustments. THE DURATION OF THIS TIME (SLACK)IS DIFFERENT FOR EVERY AREA. I know this sounds confusing, but the only place to find this are tidal reference tables.
EC NEWELL MAN*
In you question, you are confusing tide with current....tide is height, current is movement....what we call a SLACK period, is what you are looking for. This does not mean that the waters in a given area does not move...there is the beginning of slight movement in the opposite direction at this time. Many areas do not give a slack water period, but you try to find the closest station to these points, and make slight adjustments. THE DURATION OF THIS TIME (SLACK)IS DIFFERENT FOR EVERY AREA. I know this sounds confusing, but the only place to find this are tidal reference tables.
EC NEWELL MAN*
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Slack after high
Hi 186Logic,
I'll give you my experiences for the times for slack after high. Under normal conditions in Stony Brook harbor I find slack after high to occur about 45 minutes after the posted high tide time. In FI inlet I typically expect the high slack water to occur about 2 and a half hours after high tide.
This is all variable depending on many conditions. I find wind to be the main factor though. Say you have wind with the incoming current in a particular inlet, the current may continue to flood much longer and the slack will last much longer as well, as the current has to fight against the wind to turn.
On the other hand, wind against an incoming current may cause slack to occur prematurely and it will be very brief.
Like most have said, the key is to know the typical conditions for the area(s) you fish and then know how to apply the weather conditions to the area so you know what to expect when you get there. I'll see you out in FI this fall.
I have been after Nerd for a few months to post the current charts (see "current charts" in the Website forum) but haven't received any update on how it's going.
Hi 186Logic,
I'll give you my experiences for the times for slack after high. Under normal conditions in Stony Brook harbor I find slack after high to occur about 45 minutes after the posted high tide time. In FI inlet I typically expect the high slack water to occur about 2 and a half hours after high tide.
This is all variable depending on many conditions. I find wind to be the main factor though. Say you have wind with the incoming current in a particular inlet, the current may continue to flood much longer and the slack will last much longer as well, as the current has to fight against the wind to turn.
On the other hand, wind against an incoming current may cause slack to occur prematurely and it will be very brief.
Like most have said, the key is to know the typical conditions for the area(s) you fish and then know how to apply the weather conditions to the area so you know what to expect when you get there. I'll see you out in FI this fall.
I have been after Nerd for a few months to post the current charts (see "current charts" in the Website forum) but haven't received any update on how it's going.
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GOD TALK ABOUT OVER COMPLICATED ANSWERS
Guys - think we're over thinking this one.
Generally 40 minutes to an hour after the incoming (or the outgoing for that matter) comes to a halt the water begins to move in the other direction. . May not be exact - but probably close enough.
Guys - think we're over thinking this one.
Generally 40 minutes to an hour after the incoming (or the outgoing for that matter) comes to a halt the water begins to move in the other direction. . May not be exact - but probably close enough.
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NEWELL MAN, am I correct in assuming, on a very basic level, that slack tide has a direct relationship between water reaching its tidal height in one place, and then "waiting" for the water to reach its tidal height in another place? i.e., the water in Jones Inlet reaches its tidal height sooner then it will in Massapequa, because it is closer to the source of water, and the slack tide at the Inlet is the time it takes for the water to reach back bay areas?
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MakoMatt,
Or could it be when the water in Jones meets the water that is pushed in from Fire Island somewhere in the back bays.
paulie
Or could it be when the water in Jones meets the water that is pushed in from Fire Island somewhere in the back bays.
paulie
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If thats the case then it should be slack in the back where the water meets from the two inlets immediately,before the inlets go slack.Whats hard to understand is when your out there in 90' of water fluking and it goes slack out there,thats what I don't understand.How does that massave body of water come to a stop during slack.I guess its the same princibles,but hard to swallow.
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Tides web site
Togmaster, thanks for posting that tides web site. That site really cleared up a lot of things in my mind. There are great graphs, formulas and diagrams to clear the matter up. This is one of the great debates. Are the tide and currents simple to understand and predict or not. I vote simple to understand yes. Simple to predict no. Just like all chaos theories, to many variables to correalte to a specific point in time (to the minute) with any great degree of accuracy. Just like the stock market and weather in general. With this knowledge you can get close + or - some amount of minutes. It's now an educated guess. Great thread. Thanks again. I'm hoping I can get one of my kids to take this topic up as a science project. I have a few beaches in mind that I would like to plot the tides during some new and full moons.
Togmaster, thanks for posting that tides web site. That site really cleared up a lot of things in my mind. There are great graphs, formulas and diagrams to clear the matter up. This is one of the great debates. Are the tide and currents simple to understand and predict or not. I vote simple to understand yes. Simple to predict no. Just like all chaos theories, to many variables to correalte to a specific point in time (to the minute) with any great degree of accuracy. Just like the stock market and weather in general. With this knowledge you can get close + or - some amount of minutes. It's now an educated guess. Great thread. Thanks again. I'm hoping I can get one of my kids to take this topic up as a science project. I have a few beaches in mind that I would like to plot the tides during some new and full moons.
Newsday
Fellas,
Newsday lists Slack Water After High Tide. You can find it on the weather page, usually in the middle of the paper. All the times they list for tides match perfectly with this site. However, you can not find it on their website. They have tide there but not slack times.
somoan
Fellas,
Newsday lists Slack Water After High Tide. You can find it on the weather page, usually in the middle of the paper. All the times they list for tides match perfectly with this site. However, you can not find it on their website. They have tide there but not slack times.
somoan
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