3.5 high tide ?

[doggy]

am i wasting my time fishing a 3.5 high tide? i fished a mark today that i always fish. it was low tide first cast felt a few tiny bites, struck it and stopped to c if i was on n yea just a small flounder from deep rock mark, short while later another flounder, then as tide started to rise it went really quiet and nothing, i kept thinking it should pick up as tide comes in, if anything it got worse, size 6 match hook all day with rag

[paul mason]

Any time spent fishing is not wasted!! learn from your experience. Bigger tide are generally better for shore fishing on open beaches, if you concentrate your trips around the bigger tides more fish will be caught.

[magpie01]

I find each mark different. Some fish better at high tide and others at low. Bu generally high tides bring in more fish in most cases as paul said!

[doggy]

fair enough guys i shouldnt of said wasting time, after all i got two fish. maybe i should of said is there no big fish on small tides cuz it seemed dead as the tide started to flood? usualy this mark has heaps of wrasse and pollock of decent weight, i didnt get one decent bite all day/nite fished it for 5 hours easy, really just wanted to know has anyone got a decent fish on a 3.5 deep rock mark? lets say over 2lb, cheers again lads

[ShaneH]

No two marks will fish the same the next few 3.5m tides on your mark fish them and see how you get on then you should get your answer

[dexs7]

No two marks will fish the same the next few 3.5m tides on your mark fish them and see how you get on then you should get your answer

I agree also most places that have a channel are best on the low tides as you can get your bait closer to the channel and the fish. Likewise avoid these marks on high tides 4.4 + as the flood puts you outside casting distance to the channel, but as shane said no two marks will fish the same, some places are better on low water others on high, others filling, others tide going out. Favourite marks should be fished all sides many times of the tide to truly figure out what is the best time to fish and after all the knowledge you get about a mark you can still head out with everything in your favour and still blank, that's why we love fishing it would drive you mad but its far from predictable

[doggy]

sound lads so fish fish and fish some more is the answer so haha, my conclusion is that on the 3.5 at my mark its crap, it was dead all the up the flood, witch normally is active on bigger tides, i wasnt looking for an answer set in stone but just have u guys caught anything decent (over 1lb) on these tides at your spot or anywhere u hav fished, i understand wat u guys have caught at ur mark on a 3.5 will not be same as mine but im just interested in wat ur mark throws up on a small tide? i just seemed to get hit by tiny little fish, there was over 20 of them water birds when i got to the mark, never seen so many altogether all sitting on the exposed rocks below me, something was up but im not sure, sorry if this is dump stuff, i only picked up a rod last year...

[dexs7]

sound lads so fish fish and fish some more is the answer so haha, my conclusion is that on the 3.5 at my mark its crap, it was dead all the up the flood, witch normally is active on bigger tides, i wasnt looking for an answer set in stone but just have u guys caught anything decent (over 1lb) on these tides at your spot or anywhere u hav fished, i understand wat u guys have caught at ur mark on a 3.5 will not be same as mine but im just interested in wat ur mark throws up on a small tide? i just seemed to get hit by tiny little fish, there was over 20 of them water birds when i got to the mark, never seen so many altogether all sitting on the exposed rocks below me, something was up but im not sure, sorry if this is dump stuff, i only picked up a rod last year...

Its not a dumb question, the slack tides where I fish are not usually as productive as the bigger tides, thats why I always change to venues that are hard to fish on large tides, Estuary's that have channels seem to be very productive for me on slack tides, thats because I can cast my bait out into channel for the day. Likewise I stay away from these venues on large tides as the flood would have me miles away from the channel. I think you need to plan your venues around the different types of tides, asking local anglers and trying out different marks at different times will help you improve you catch rate. You should get a diary record the conditions ie wind, tide height, swells, and your catch. A pattern should emerge after time. I started this 3 years ago and allot of the marks have fished very similar at the same times of the year. I record all other information I hear from people as well ie 4 sting rays caught in a certain mark on sand eel on August the 25th. The more info you have the better advantage you have and the more you learn. I dont think anybody will ever fully understand the mysteries of fishing and as Henry Gilby says walk away from somebody who proclaims to know it all. Best results come from your own leg work and research you do, and to be honest thats what makes fishing enjoyable, you have to work at it and put in the time (99% of the time) to get the prizes deserved I may be rambling now but thats my opinion

PS My best 2 bass (7.5lb and 6.5lb) we caught at low water at night, the tide had nearly fully dropped and was before the turn. So to answer your question you do not need high tides for large fish.

Hope this helps

[doggy]

cheers fella, so in an estuary when tide is all the way out i can walk out and cast into the main channel at the mouth of the estuary ? let say tide is in n starting to head out would u follow it out and keep casting as it moves further and so on until its all the way out? then fish it with no tidal movement and low? like backwards surf fishing if that makes any sense at all?

[roger de dodger]

weather can play a part to ,a good surf will put fish on the feed within easy casting range ,sometimes depending on your target a flat des is better ie,ray fishing but as a general rule big tides = more run = more fish ,some marks are unfishable on big tides for example estuary marks ,like monkstown you would need a 5lb weight to hold bottom on a big tide .
some marks are fished backwards as you said !

[doggy]

thanks guys so i think i need to go suss out a few spots for different tide changes, cheers all

[dexs7]

cheers fella, so in an estuary when tide is all the way out i can walk out and cast into the main channel at the mouth of the estuary ? let say tide is in n starting to head out would u follow it out and keep casting as it moves further and so on until its all the way out? then fish it with no tidal movement and low? like backwards surf fishing if that makes any sense at all?

Exactly follow it out and on the turn fish it back in again. I suggest 2-3 hours before it turns and the same after it turns. Keep note when its at its busiest. If you have time fish all sides of it when you get low 3.5 and under tides, you will eventually figure out which time is best

[doggy]

cheers dex, another question , in the winter months you will only get fish in the channels and there is no fish at rock marks?

[dexs7]

Sorry for the late reply I have no being on the site much with work, you can get the winter species from a lot of rock marks especially cod, whiting, coleys the only problem is the rock marks can be extremely dangerous in the winter with rough tides/swells and wet rocks so most people stay away. I would suggest sticking to the safer marks

[doggy]

ah sound dex. u no what they say better late then never . thanks for the warning and info

[dexs7]

ah sound dex. u no what they say better late then never . thanks for the warning and info

No bother, pm me with and decent catches, I will be home at xmas so planning a fishing session to end all sessions hopefully there may be a few cod left around

[doggy]

will do dex, take care man