Introduction to
Wells Daily Fishing Forecast
Tidal Currents are the horizontal 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 determined 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 movement 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 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 indicated . 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 concentrated and will always be feeding on their moving and exposed food .
Because the best fishing usually 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 current . 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 occurs , 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 DIR STARTS ENDS STRENGTH ( 1 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 ) ( 4 ) ( 5 ) TUE I 05:30am 09:50am Good
1 O 01:15pm 02:35pm Very Weak
O 10:20pm 04:20am * V Strong GOOD TO MID-MORNING ( 6 ) WED I 06:35am 11:15am Strong
2 O 11:15pm 05:25am * V Strong2 MORNING VERY GOOD
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 .
4 G U L F C O A S T F I S H E R M A N W W W . G U L F F I S H I N G . C O M