Tide confusion
- Stanley Fink
- Aug 20
- 2 min read
TEAM JO-JO:
TEAM JO-JO FISHING REPORT & STRATEGY NOTE
Oneofthepack had doctor appointments today, which worked out well for us as Big Rudy & Oneofthepack wanted to make a late trip to catch the start of a falling tide. Based on our observation of numerous tide charts, we expected a slack tide around 2:00 PM (aka 14:00 hours), with a falling tide soon behind it.
Exhibits Reviewed
Exhibit “A” – USCG Crooked Bayou Delacroix
Exhibit “B” – Tides4Fishing Shell Beach
Exhibit “C” – Tideschart Delacroix
What Actually Happened
None of the predictions (Exhibits B & C) came close to the actual tide conditions we encountered.
We got into the honey hole at 12:48 PM and the tide was pouring in hard.
It never showed any sign of slowing down.
We had little chance to test our theory on a falling tide bite.
Then the fish gods spoke—a huge thunderstorm rolled in with rain and lightning everywhere. The only clear path was straight back to home port. My gut had already told me two things before we launched:
The bites weren’t going to happen.
This thunderstorm/s was going to be a bad one.
Both hunches lined up with what actually unfolded.
Fishing Philosophy
As I’ve said before, I’m not much on trying to “time bites.”
My strategy has always been: “Early Bird Gets the Worm.”
Fish until the bites happen.
Patience is my strongest suit—at least when it comes to fishing.
Strategy Session with Big Rudy
On the ride home, Big Rudy & I started strategizing on how to better plan trips by getting a more accurate tide read.
💡 Lightbulb moment: The USCG/USGS gauge (Exhibit A) gives actual history of tides—showing exactly when peak high and low took place. That is far more reliable than predictions.
The plan:
Use prediction charts (Exhibits B & C) to get a general idea.
Then use Exhibit A (Crooked Bayou) to check actual history against predictions.
By comparing the two, we’ll know what really happened in the marsh on days we fish.
Moving Forward
Team Jo-Jo will use USCG/USGS gauges from now on. Only challenge: I don’t yet know how to find gauges for other areas (Shell Beach, Bayou Bienvenue, etc.).
That’s our next mission—build our own Team Jo-Jo Tide Network.
Question for the Crew
We think the USCG/USGS actual history is more accurate than any tide predictions.
What say you, crew????
Closing
Good Fishing,Team Jo-Jo & Oneofthepack釣り先生
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