The Tide and the Ocean

[Detour66]

I had a conversation with a Capt about the Tide and the Ocean. This Capt claimed there is only current in the ocean and no tide and the tide only affects the bays. I find this hard to believe but who knows? What is your opinion or facts on this!

[Chrisper4694]

Maybe he means the tide changes don't effect the fishing out in the ocean? There are def tides on the ocean side if the beaches. The water comes up and down on the tide up the beaches ocean side just like in the bay. Out away from the shore idk?

[dfish28]

Think about this one and consider gravity and a level or transit if you must.... Looking onshore from the ocean the jetty is exposed 6 or 8 feet, low tide...where is the mysterious hump that levels out in the deep? Nowhere... When your at anchor all day on one spot, why does the depth change?= gravity. When there is more gravity at your spot, there is more "tide"- high tide, because the water is pulled to the spot of the highest force of gravity... I never would want to talk with this captain...

[Gerry Zagorski]

No question there are tides in the ocean. All you need to do is spend some time on the beach, by a jetty or inlet and you can see the water levels rise and fall.

I think what the captain might be saying is that the tides don't effect the fishing as much in the open ocean as they do in rivers, bays and inlets. In these areas the tides dictate the water movement and direction because of all the water running in and out through more restricted areas.

In the open ocean the currents have more to do with the direction the water is moving then the tide.

[Garone Custom Rods]

No question there are tides in the ocean. All you need to do is spend some time on the beach, by a jetty or inlet and you can see the water levels rise and fall.

I think what the captain might be saying is that the tides don't effect the fishing as much in the open ocean as they do in rivers, bays and inlets. In these areas the tides dictate the water movement and direction because of all the water running in and out through more restricted areas.

In the open ocean the currents have more to do with the direction the water is moving then the tide.

Great explanation Gerry. There are tides out in the ocean, currents are not as effected by tide in areas where there is little restricting the waters flow.

[Joey Dah Fish]

I too agree. Yes the water rises and falls in the ocean but I believe current is a larger factor than tide. Yet in the bay it's all about the tide.

[Ocean Explorer]

I get that question all the time,,,maybe it was me that said that but what I mean when someone asks is that I have been out in the ocean not near the inlet or sandy hook or anything and the tide might be strong all day on both changes out of the south or Northeast or what ever,,,,Definately tides in the ocean,,obviously the rise and fall everyday but I have seen alot where the tide is one direction for days,,,,no change or anything ...So tides yes but sometimes I think guys mean maybe a change in the direction of current might get the fish to start biting a little better...I know that some Captains that fish more up by 17 or that area,,including myself have seen a tide change affect the fishing alot up there closer to Sandy Hook and Ambrose area...Just offshore and south more I do not notice it as much..Then we could get into conversation about a strong current one way on top and another on the bottom which I have seen alot,,,just spearfishing I have seen many days with a ripping current and brown water on top and crystal clear cool water on the bottom...and vice versa..great topic though!!

[Bass_Appeal]

If ur fishing in the ocean, lets say by monsters ledge , and ur in 350 ft of water anchored up , when the tide goes in and out from the shore line will that 350ft depth rise or lower with the tide , if not i think thats what he might be saying .

Im thinking he means ocean, ocean , not a mile from shore ...

[Gerry Zagorski]

If ur fishing in the ocean, lets say by monsters ledge , and ur in 350 ft of water anchored up , when the tide goes in and out from the shore line will that 350ft depth rise or lower with the tide...

Yes the ocean rises and falls even out there, the same as it does inshore. In our area the tides vary from north to south, not east to west. The tides are more extreme the further north you go and lesser the further south you go.

[Ryelof]

Basic science
http://scienceline.ucsb.edu/getkey.php?key=353

[Gerry Zagorski]

OK one more crack at explaning this.

Let say you are fishing some place during a moving tide where land restricts the tide. Ambrose channel, Sandy Hook, Raritan Bays etc. In those areas the tide/current run stonger there because all that water that wants to move in or out is restricted by land. Think of these areas as a funnel and the closer you get to the smaller area of the funnel the hearder the current will run. In these areas the tide is going to dictate the current, it's speed and the direction of the water movement.

Now lets look at the open ocean.

There are no land restrictions so it lessens the effect of tidal flow. There are however currents that are caused by wind, bottom contours etc. Here the current and not the tide are going to dictate the water movement.

As an example... The last few times we were out fishing in the area of the Snake out on the ocean and 5 or 6 mile off the beach, in spite of the tide changing from incoming to outgoing, the current was running north all day. Had the current been effected by the tide, the direction would have changed when the tide changed.

Had we been fishing close to land restrictions the tide would have changed the direction of the currents.

[Capt. Debbie]

I think he gave you the dumbed down version. There are tidal currents and non tidal currents ( ex Gulf stream, El Nino, etc.).

What I think he mean was in the open ocean away from shore, the tidal flow is neglible until you get near a narrow opening where a pronouced direction is obvious. Offshore the tidal current is virtually meaningless.

Remember what the tide is? Its the moon pulling water upwards it as noon and earth rotate. Position of moon indicates high and low tide directly below it on earth.

So if your moon is mid Atlantic or 180 degree other side of earth it will be pulling water like a table cloth picked up in the middle. Water flows towards center. And that center moves. Moon directly over water is daily HI HI. And Moon 180 degr othe side of earth and your water it is the lower hi tide of each day.







I had a conversation with a Capt about the Tide and the Ocean. This Capt claimed there is only current in the ocean and no tide and the tide only affects the bays. I find this hard to believe but who knows? What is your opinion or facts on this!

[Gerry Zagorski]

Great explanation Frank.... I like the table cloth analogy.

[JonDevin]

On a calm day, I've seen the tide line coming through and we were probably about a mile offshore. It was pretty cool.

[Detour66]

On a calm day, I've seen the tide line coming through and we were probably about a mile offshore. It was pretty cool.

I have seen tide lines coming through as far as 10 miles offshore and yes there are very cool to see!