Fly Fishing

kory_k · Location: New York, NY

Since moving to the east coast I have spent a fair amount of time pursuing striped bass, bluefish, false albacore, bonito and anything else that will chase a fly in the saltwater. A lot of this time has been spent on foot since I don't have a boat. Initially I learned that tides were extremely important and started paying a lot of attention to them prior to going out. At first I figured that the incoming tide would be the best time to be in the surf because it would bring the fish in with it. As time went on, I ended up out there whenever I could and frequently would stay through both incoming and outgoing. What I experienced seemed to indicate that the type of tide didn't really matter as much as to just have moving water. I had had good fishing on both incoming and outgoing tides. Of course certain places were better on an incoming because they were too shallow or completely dry on
the lower part of the outgoing and other places were good on outgoing because they drained a bay or estuary and brought baitfish and other food out with it. What I never did figure out though was whether the open surf was better on incoming or outgoing tide. Any of you guys have any thoughts or opinions or experiences on this? Is incoming or outgoing tide better for surf fishing?

MarshallD · Location: Naples, Fl

Down here in Naples we fish the beach almost every week. I think the structure of the beach (steepness of the beach, sand bars or lack of them, points and pilings) all have an effect trapping baitfish and attracting large preditors. Where there is a compression of water, a river of tidal water between sand bars, or a cut, a channel...is where fish will enter to get to the beach. These trenches come and go with each storm, so it pays off big to know where they are. That's where I want to be fishing because I think the larger fish are litterally "waiting with baited breath to get in". I think the mid-incoming to high tide can be the best sight fishing....IF the water is clear, it's easier of course. Also, if this best of tides comes just after sunrise when there's hardly no one else walking and spooking MY FISH....well, that's as good as it can be. I know, they're not my fish but having the beach all to yourself can be a religeous experience ....that's why I LOVE the summer here.

The mid-outgoing can be good for 'seeing' fish in shallower water but these fish may have already eaten so on the outgoing tide they may be not so eager to eat as when they first come in. That's not always true because there can be latecomers.

All fishing is better on steep tides...whether incoming or outgoing....current is good.

I consider the structure and topography of each stretch of beach before making a choice where to fish. Because I am primarily a sight-fisher....I want the sun at my back and I want the fish to feel secure enough to feed. If the Snook have just a flip of the fin to be in safe depths, they will utilize the safest stretch of beach as long as there are baitfish present. There can be a perfect tide, but if there's no bait around, Snook may be harder to find.

Lots of bait on a bad tide can be a good thing. Less bait around can make your fly a more attractive meal than it would be when there's tons of live bait for Snook to eat...

Each day out is totally different than any other day...it's that subtle and complex. That's why it is so utterly fascinating and challenging a game.

kory_k · Location: New York, NY

Marshall,
excellent points! Knowing where these troughs or channels or cuts are are very essential to beach fishing which is something that just takes time to learn. Finding these "food funnels" can be the key to success. In striped bass fishing up here, it is frequently not sight fishing unfortunately. Granted, there are many situations where it can be but typically it is not so you have to try and "read" the beach structure to figure this out. Then you are still just guessing and hoping that the fish will be there. Ideally birds will be working over the area you are fishing giving an indication that there are fish underneath or even more ideal fish are breaking and you can see them. Unfortunately that is frequently not the case and it can look like no fish are around, but a lot of times they are still there so figuring out the best places on the right tides are key. I wish that I could fish the beach as frequently as you are able and really get to know and learn these "hotspots". My other problem is that I like to explore, so I am frequently going to new beaches and new locations. I know this is not nearly as productive but it is just in my nature to want to "see what is around the corner..." Some day I would love to come down and chase the beach snook, that sounds awesome!

MarshallD · Location: Naples, Fl

by all means, come down whenever you get a break.. we've got a real good fishery on foot and on skiffs...I'll be happy to assist you in finding lodging, etc.. Jeremy's visited here a bunch of times...check when he's coming down and team it...it doesn't have to cost a lot. Good luck! Cool

Firstlitebite · Location: Western Long Island Sound, CT

Kory,

happy holidays, just saw your post and thought I'd share my thoughts in regards to tides/ surf fly fishing. You've got it dialed in with locating the food funnels, and realizing moving water is always a needed ingridient to hookin bass.
Personally my ideal times to fish a fly on any ocean/surf beach would be the mid/end of the rising tide around dusk. Low-light is always a good thing when fishing from foot, bass are less spooky and venture into shallow waters, generally speaking then, incoming tides push bait up to the beach/rocks/jetties. An imcoming tide, on any bowl-shaped beach, near low-light, is what I generally fish when i'm in the surf. It's usually not as windy at this time, and big fish are often lurking close to shore lookin for a slow worked fly.
Maybe this helps. Just what has worked for me in the cape and islands.

captmike · Posted: Wed 12/30/09 12:40 pm Post subject:

As a blanket statement any moving tide is better than slack. Which of the two is better is a question of the structure around the beach, time of day etc. Tides on open surf beaches tend to move north or south, rather than towards or away from the beach so think about that when looking at abeach. Of course a big bar or jetty or something can make the current bend around them and move in another direction than what the bulk of the tide is doing. Maybe that helps?

MarshallD · Location: Naples, Fl

YES!

Thanks Capt. Mike....stuff we don't always think of.....

kory_k · Location: New York, NY

capt Mike,
excellent point, i had never thought of that. I kind of thought of it in a broad context from looking at the coastline from north to south but never in relation to individual beaches. I will definitely keep that in mind the next time that i fish an open beach.

firstlite,
I agree 100% especially when it comes to stripers. They love low light and the evening is prime time. I have had some of my best surf fishing scenarios at that time. Also the early morning although that is always harder for me to make happen than the evening. When I do I am usually not sorry. Low light is definitely king with stripers and for that matter a lot of other species. Cool stuff, wish I could head out right now (guess i could but not much fun when it is hovering around freezing) although there still are some fish around from what I have heard...would rather be down marshall's way though that's for sure.