The Tide and the Ocean

[Detour66]

I had a conversation with a Capt about the Tide and the Ocean. This Capt claimed there is only current in the ocean and no tide and the tide only affects the bays. I find this hard to believe but who knows? What is your opinion or facts on this!

[Chrisper4694]

Maybe he means the tide changes don't effect the fishing out in the ocean? There are def tides on the ocean side if the beaches. The water comes up and down on the tide up the beaches ocean side just like in the bay. Out away from the shore idk?

[dfish28]

Think about this one and consider gravity and a level or transit if you must.... Looking onshore from the ocean the jetty is exposed 6 or 8 feet, low tide...where is the mysterious hump that levels out in the deep? Nowhere... When your at anchor all day on one spot, why does the depth change?= gravity. When there is more gravity at your spot, there is more "tide"- high tide, because the water is pulled to the spot of the highest force of gravity... I never would want to talk with this captain...

[Gerry Zagorski]

No question there are tides in the ocean. All you need to do is spend some time on the beach, by a jetty or inlet and you can see the water levels rise and fall.

I think what the captain might be saying is that the tides don't effect the fishing as much in the open ocean as they do in rivers, bays and inlets. In these areas the tides dictate the water movement and direction because of all the water running in and out through more restricted areas.

In the open ocean the currents have more to do with the direction the water is moving then the tide.

[Garone Custom Rods]

Originally Posted by Gerry Zagorski

No question there are tides in the ocean. All you need to do is spend some time on the beach, by a jetty or inlet and you can see the water levels rise and fall.

I think what the captain might be saying is that the tides don't effect the fishing as much in the open ocean as they do in rivers, bays and inlets. In these areas the tides dictate the water movement and direction because of all the water running in and out through more restricted areas.

In the open ocean the currents have more to do with the direction the water is moving then the tide.

Great explanation Gerry. There are tides out in the ocean, currents are not as effected by tide in areas where there is little restricting the waters flow.

[Joey Dah Fish]

I too agree. Yes the water rises and falls in the ocean but I believe current is a larger factor than tide. Yet in the bay it's all about the tide.

[Capt. Debbie]

I think he gave you the dumbed down version. There are tidal currents and non tidal currents ( ex Gulf stream, El Nino, etc.).

What I think he mean was in the open ocean away from shore, the tidal flow is neglible until you get near a narrow opening where a pronouced direction is obvious. Offshore the tidal current is virtually meaningless.

Remember what the tide is? Its the moon pulling water upwards it as noon and earth rotate. Position of moon indicates high and low tide directly below it on earth.

So if your moon is mid Atlantic or 180 degree other side of earth it will be pulling water like a table cloth picked up in the middle. Water flows towards center. And that center moves. Moon directly over water is daily HI HI. And Moon 180 degr othe side of earth and your water it is the lower hi tide of each day.

Originally Posted by Detour66

I had a conversation with a Capt about the Tide and the Ocean. This Capt claimed there is only current in the ocean and no tide and the tide only affects the bays. I find this hard to believe but who knows? What is your opinion or facts on this!

[Gerry Zagorski]

Great explanation Frank.... I like the table cloth analogy.

[JonDevin]

On a calm day, I've seen the tide line coming through and we were probably about a mile offshore. It was pretty cool.

[Detour66]

Originally Posted by JonDevin

On a calm day, I've seen the tide line coming through and we were probably about a mile offshore. It was pretty cool.

I have seen tide lines coming through as far as 10 miles offshore and yes there are very cool to see!