Introduction to
Wells Daily Fishing Forecast
Tidal Currents are the horizon-
tal movement of tide waters. This
horizontal movement is the most
vital factor in marine life. Because
currents control the movement of
fish food, they are the only advance
predictable factor in the movement
of our gamefish. All the other minor
factors which effect the movement
of fish can only be determined on a
day-to-day basis. It can be deter-
mined when and where the most fish
movement will occur on any given
day. You can decide whether to fish
the deeper reefs, the close to shore
feeding areas or the passes from the
Gulf.
The “why” it works is known
to thousands of fishermen who
have depended on the Fishing
Forecast for 60 years. This
explanation is mostly for new (to
the Forecast) fishermen but
regular users can benefit by
reviewing this information.
It is essential to understand
that fish food starts moving IN
and OUT as soon as a tidal current
has gained enough horizontal
speed to force them in the
direction of its flow.
The time required for a tidal
current to build up to a horizontal
speed of at least three tenths of a
knot (forcing speed) can be from
minutes to several hours. For this
reason times given in the column,
“Starts”, can never be correlated
to the time of High Tide or Low
Tide as given in sections of this
magazine.
The Forecast, therefore, starts
with the time when a tidal current
has reached necessary speed or
Forcing Power to start a move-
ment in the direction indicated,
either IN or OUT. The second time
figure represents the end of the
Forcing Power as the current
slows down to slack water time.
Analyzing the two time
4
G U L F C O A S T F I S H E R M A N
figures, we start with the first
column, the time when movement
starts. This time figure compared
with the last time on the previous
line tells you the length of time
since the current moved the fish. If
the previous current moved IN,
then the fish will still be IN until
after starting time on this line. If
they were moved OUT on the
previous current, then they won’t
start IN until after this first time
figure.
The starting time represents
the time when a tidal current has
gained speed and force to start
movement in the direction indi-
cated. This time figure represents
the beginning of a period when you
do not have to hunt for your fish.
By just being stationed on a known
and proven reef or channel leading
to or from shallow water, the tidal
current will bring the fish to you.
(See no. 3 - next column.)
These periods of movement
will generally provide the best and
fastest action of the day because
the schools of fish will be concen-
trated and will always be feeding
on their moving and exposed food.
Because the best fishing usu-
ally occurs each day following the
time shown in this starting column,
the variations involved are worth
studying.
First, a study of flooding or
incoming currents shows that the
IN movement of fish will be
slower and more gradual than the
OUT movement on an ebbing cur-
rent. Fishing will be slower with
fairly long intervals between
schools of fish feeding their way
into the shallow water areas.
However, the continuing action
should hold you at your fishing
spot until this movement has
ended.
On the other hand, when a
strong current begins to ebb or go
OUT, it will move everything in a
short period of time. Except when
a tide is rated Weak or Very
Weak, all the gamefish will be
out of shallow water well before
the time shown when movement is
predicted to end.
The column of Current Speed
Ratings designates each current
by its strongest speed. Each of
these ratings represents a definite
speed range. These speed ranges
are Very Weak; Weak; Moderate;
Good; Strong; Very Strong; and,
Extra Strong. A current rated
Good, for instance, will always
have the same strength and speed
range regardless of when it oc-
curs, either ebbing or flooding.
It is very important to adjust
the times as shown in the Fishing
Forecast to the area where you are
fishing. The times given are for
approximately the center of the
various bays. Areas nearer the
Gulf passes have movements
starting earlier, so subtract time
from that shown. Fishing areas
further into the Bays will have
movements starting later than the
times given.
CURRENT MOVEMENT
DAY
(1 )
TUE
1
DIR STARTS
ENDS
(2 )
( 3 )
(4)
I 05:30am 09:50am
O 01:15pm 02:35pm
O 10:20pm 04:20am*
GOOD TO MID-MORNING (6)
WED I 06:35am 11:15am
2 O 11:15pm 05:25am*
MORNING VERY GOOD
STRENGTH
(5)
Good
Very Weak
V Strong
Strong
V Strong2
1. Day and Date
2. Direction of current. (I) Incoming or
Flooding. (O) Outgoing or Ebbing.
3. Approximate time that current will
reach .3 knot
4. Approximate time that current will
slow below .3 knot.
5. Prediction of current strength.
6. Forecast of overall prospect forthe day.
W W W. G U L F F I S H I N G. C O M