Ready to navigate the sea with the skill and strength (not included) of Poseidon? Perfect. It’s all about learning how to navigate tides and currents like the true hero you are. 

When you fish the salt, navigating tides and currents make all the difference when it comes to bringing home a huge haul of fish. Once you understand the difference between tides and currents AND how to adapt your technique accordingly, those fish don’t stand a chance.

What is the Difference Between Tides and Currents?

Let’s talk. Tides and currents, while similar, have key differences that are important to understand if you want to have a successful day fishing. 

Tides

Tides are the periodic rises and falls of sea levels caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun. They follow a predictable schedule, with two high tides and two low tides occurring daily in most areas. 

Tides change the depth of the water, exposing or covering certain fishing areas like flats, sandbars, or reefs. Incoming tides raise water levels, outgoing tides lower water levels. 

Fishing the Tide

Tidal transitions, like incoming or outgoing tides, are some of the best times to fish if you know how to work with them. Fish are extra active during these times because the moving water kicks up nutrients, baitfish, and other prey, making it prime feeding time.

Currents

Currents are the horizontal movement of water influenced by tidal changes, wind, and geographical features. Tidal currents are a direct result of rising and falling tides. Currents can vary in speed and direction depending on tidal phases, wind, and underwater topography. Currents create horizontal water flow, which affects how bait and nutrients move through the water column.

Fishing the Current

Moderate currents are ideal for fishing. These types of currents distribute food, attract baitfish, and commonly see predatory fish looking to feed.

At a Glance: Tides vs. Currents

How to Navigate Tides and Currents

To make the most of tides and currents while fishing, try heading out during moving water— like when the tide’s coming in or going out. That’s when baitfish are most active and predators are on the hunt. 

Position Yourself to Fish With the Current

Cast your bait upstream and let it drift naturally with the current, aiming for spots where the water flows around structures like drop-offs or channel edges. We’ll talk more about that below.

Adjust your spot based on the tide direction to find the best feeding areas for the fish you’re after. Don’t forget to check the local tide charts to figure out the best times to hit the water!

Be sure to consider specific tidal phase and how it affects the behavior of your target species in local waters.

Slack Tide

Here in the Northeast, a lot of our local fish follow the same routine— they’re usually the least active during slack tide and when the water is moving the fastest. 

Slack tide is a brief window when the water in a tidal body is still and there is no tidal current. It occurs when the tidal current pauses before reversing direction– in between high and low tide. 

Slack tide is when the tidal current is at its weakest because it essentially pauses before changing direction, normally about 30 minutes before and after high or low tide.  

The period just before and after slack tide, when the current starts to pick up again, can often be a good time to fish. 

How do you fish according to the tides?

Moving water is the secret fish sauce. The best times to fish are when the tide is moving, or "running". This is when the tide is moving from high to low or vice versa. 

When the tide starts coming in and water flows over the saltwater flats, fish move into these areas to look for food. A great tactic during an incoming tide is to fish near the deeper water just off the edge of the flat. Cast your line toward the fish that are making their way onto the flat with the rising water.

Here are three tips for fishing the tides that all anglers should know: 

1. Go with the flow: Let the water’s movement work to your advantage

2. Cast up-tide: It bears repeating: If the wind is stronger than the tide, cast up-tide and reel back in with the force of the current on your side. 

3. Anchors Secure! If you’re fishing an outgoing tide, secure the anchor and cast upstream

When to fish the tides

Incoming Tide

Plan to fish during the first part of the rising tide when the water’s starting to come in. Cast your bait upstream and let it drift naturally with the current toward deeper water. 

Focus on spots where the current hits structures like points, drop-offs, or channel edges for the best chance at a bite.

Cover, Structures, Current Breaks, and Eddies

Fish use structures and cover for several important reasons. Here’s a few to keep in mind when fishing the tides: 

Cover

Cover is important to understand, especially in the summer, because it provides cooler water for fish to hang out in. Whether it’s shade from overhanging trees, submerged vegetation, or docks, these spots help fish stay comfortable when the water heats up. 

Structures

Structures are any noticeable change in the underwater landscape, like a point, hump, drop-off, creek channel, or rock pile. These spots attract fish because the depth and contours create great places for them to hang out and feed. 

Think of it as a standout feature on the bottom of a lake or river that fish use as a kind of reference point. It’s a prime spot for them to feed and for you to cast your line!

Current Breaks

In areas with strong currents, structures create breaks in the flow of water which fish often use as resting points to conserve energy. Water currents often carry nutrients and baitfish past these structures, making current breaks ideal feeding locations.

Eddies

“Eddies” are circular currents of water that spin against the main flow, creating a calm, slower spot—usually found behind rocks, structures, or along riverbanks. These areas are great for fishing because fish often hang out there to rest and grab an easy meal from the food particles that gather in the slower water.

Outgoing Tide

When fishing an outgoing tide, aim for deeper channels, drop-offs, or passes that lead to open water. 

As the tide goes out, it pushes baitfish into these areas, making them hotspots for predators looking to ambush near structures like pilings or jetties. 

Try using live bait or lures that look like the prey being swept out with the current. Pay attention to the current’s strength and direction, and adjust your casts and retrievals to match.

Tide Charts

Use a tide chart to identify the times of high tide, low tide, and the periods of strongest current movement, which are usually the best times to fish. 

Check out these resources to find out the tides and currents near your next fishing location:

• Tides Near Me

• Tides and Currents

• Salt Water Tides, New York