Q&A for How to Read Tide Tables

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What causes the tides?

Michael Reynolds
Professional Fishing Instructor
Michael Reynolds is a Professional Fishing Instructor and the Owner of Long Beach, California Fishing Lessons by Michael Reynolds. In his over 40 years of fishing experience, Michael has become very knowledgeable about the variety of fishing methods and techniques. He is passionate about sharing his knowledge with beginners to experienced anglers. Michael has been guiding and teaching fishing for over five years and is licensed and bonded with the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW).

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Expert Answer

As the moon orbits the planet, the force which follows drags the ocean, which causes the tides.

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What does -0.019 low tide indicate?

Kody Lee
Guide, Fishing Trips
Kody Lee is a Guide for Fishing Trips in Washington. He has worked as a guide since 2015 and has fished his entire life.

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Guide, Fishing Trips

Expert Answer

It means the tide is .019 units below chart datum. A negative number indicates the number is below chart datum.

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What tide is better for beach walking?

Kody Lee
Guide, Fishing Trips
Kody Lee is a Guide for Fishing Trips in Washington. He has worked as a guide since 2015 and has fished his entire life.

Kody Lee

Guide, Fishing Trips

Expert Answer

A low tide is better for beach walking. A high tide isn't as desirable as a low tide.

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A tide table says low tide 5 pm; does that mean it is at its lowest point at that time?

Kody Lee
Guide, Fishing Trips
Kody Lee is a Guide for Fishing Trips in Washington. He has worked as a guide since 2015 and has fished his entire life.

Kody Lee

Guide, Fishing Trips

Expert Answer

Yes, that's correct. The tide will be lowest at 5 pm. Some tide tables indicate the time in addition to the height of the tide.

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We live near Newcastle in Northern Ireland and see that one week the high tide is shown as 1.6 yards and the following week shows 4.7 yards. However the actual height of the water level at high tides on both these occasions was just about the same. What's going on?

Kody Lee
Guide, Fishing Trips
Kody Lee is a Guide for Fishing Trips in Washington. He has worked as a guide since 2015 and has fished his entire life.

Kody Lee

Guide, Fishing Trips

Expert Answer

The predictions are not always correct. In this case, it seems they were inaccurate.

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Which low tide is best for picking clams and oysters? There are usually 2 low tides in the day, one is usually lower (eg. -1.8ft) than the other low tide (eg. 6ft). Which one is best?

Kody Lee
Guide, Fishing Trips
Kody Lee is a Guide for Fishing Trips in Washington. He has worked as a guide since 2015 and has fished his entire life.

Kody Lee

Guide, Fishing Trips

Expert Answer

Generally, a lower tide would be better. However, it will depend on the location.

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Question

Does the "height" of the tide against the low tide time mean the height of the wave at a certain marker on the beach?

Community Answer

To start, the height is used for a flat sea when there are no waves. The height is measured vertically. Note that if the shore is a cliff, the edge of the water is at the same location throughout the day, but on a mud flat, the edge of the water could move by miles as the tide comes and goes. In the USA, the height is given as feet above "datum," which is the depth shown on nautical charts. This datum is the depth at that location of the average of some of the lowest low tides there. At a given low tide, the height will be higher or lower than the datum, as shown in the prediction table.

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Question

What time does 00:09 indicate on a tidal table?

Community Answer

It indicates 12:09am (in the morning). Midnight (24:00) instantly becomes the beginning of the next day, or 00:00.

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Question

If the high or low tide is indicated as "1.44," does the number represent 1 foot and 44/100 of a foot?

Community Answer

1.44 feet would mean 1 and 44/100 feet. 1'4" would mean 1 foot and 4 inches.

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Question

Does the time for low tide refer to the middle of the tide or the end?

Community Answer

The time on the prediction table is for the time of the shallowest water. Note that the water levels and times will vary from predictions, which are made years before. The differences are due to wave driven masses of water and by atmospheric pressure.

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Question

What tide is better for crabbing? High tide or low?

Community Answer

Low, if you are going to try a beach. Try looking under big liftable rocks by the water's edge. If the rocks are still wet or are covered in seaweed, they will most likely have water underneath and make a cool place to hide for a crab.

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Question

When do the flood tides start or end? What do the times mean on a tide chart?

Community Answer

Flood tides start immediately after the low tide time on the chart. The water is rising. Ebb tides start immediately after the high tide time on the chart. The water is receding. The times on a tide chart mean that is the estimated time if the highest or lowest water level.

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Question

What does a minus tide number mean on a tide table?

Community Answer

A negative number for a low tide means the low tide is predicted to be below the average low tide mark (datum) for the location.

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Question

What exactly does the tide height mean? Does it mean that the tide is that number of feet above the average sea level at that particular spot?

Community Answer

Tide height, low or high, is a predicted reference to the average low tide mark for a given location.

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