CoastCoastCue field guide
What tidal currents mean for inshore fishing
Tidal current describes water moving through a channel. It is related to the rising and falling tide, but it is not the same measurement and it does not necessarily turn at the printed high or low tide time.
Current speed is not tide height
A tide station predicts the elevation of the water surface relative to MLLW. A current station predicts water velocity at a particular channel and depth bin. Rising water often accompanies flood current and falling water often accompanies ebb current, but channel storage and geometry can shift the timing.
Flood, ebb, and slack describe motion
Flood current generally moves landward and ebb current generally moves seaward. Slack is a period near the change in direction, not a promise that every nearby creek or bridge is motionless. NOAA may publish a signed velocity curve or only maximum-current and slack events, depending on the station.
Match the channel and depth
Current can change sharply across a harbor entrance, bridge opening, inlet throat, or river bend. NOAA current stations can also publish multiple depth bins. Choose a station for the same inlet, channel, or waterway and keep its bin visible. Straight-line distance alone cannot establish that relationship.
Use current as one planning input
Moving water can position bait and create feeding opportunities, but species, structure, season, wind, water clarity, and safety still matter. CoastCue uses NOAA current predictions where local coverage exists and falls back to the local rate of tide change where a remote current station would be less useful.