| The best time to go surf fishing has to be answered | | | | hours before high tide and two hours after. Slack tide |
| in a number of different ways. To address this topic | | | | which is right between high tide and low tide is not |
| we must consider what is meant by, "the best time". | | | | productive for surf fishing. Low tide in most areas is |
| Are we referring to the time of year, the time of | | | | usually only good for scouting the beach for ideal |
| day, the tidal movements, the phases of the moon | | | | fishing spots. |
| or the weather situation? There's a lot of room for | | | | What are the Best Moon Phases? |
| interpretation. I will address them all in this article. | | | | The moon not only plays a part in the tidal |
| What is the Best Time of Year? | | | | movements, it also affects the fishing. Let me |
| Since I am not considering any particular location, as a | | | | explain. The moon produces the most extreme tide |
| general rule of thumb I would have to say spring and | | | | changes, referred to as spring tides, during the new |
| fall. Now that doesn't mean if you are fishing in the | | | | moon and the full moon. The water moves faster |
| winter or summer that the surf fishing will be poor. It | | | | during the change in tides from high to low tide and |
| most likely just won't be outstanding. That being said, | | | | the total change in depth is the greatest. This is the |
| it doesn't mean the fishing will be outstanding in the | | | | best time to fish the surf. Also, common belief is that |
| spring and fall. What it does mean is that given the | | | | during a full moon the fish feed most of the night. |
| same set of circumstances, the fishing will probably | | | | What are the Best Weather Conditions? |
| be better in the spring and fall. Surf fishing depending | | | | Weather conditions are a little more difficult to |
| on your location can be good year round. If you | | | | address because of all the different kinds of weather |
| know what you're doing it isn't difficult to catch fish | | | | factors. An onshore breeze if it isn't too strong is a |
| in the surf year round. | | | | plus. Cold fronts are negative factors. High wind and |
| What is the Best Time of Day? | | | | surf is also bad. High winds make it difficult to fish |
| This question is easier to answer. In the early | | | | and the water clarity is very poor. Low pressure is |
| morning just before dawn until 9 or 10 AM and in the | | | | better than high pressure during a spring tide. When |
| evening an hour or two before dusk. This follows the | | | | the weather conditions have been poor for the last |
| nocturnal feeding habits of the fish. During the | | | | 24 hours the fishing won't improve until the fish have |
| summer when a lot of the beaches are occupied by | | | | had a chance to acclimate. Sometimes it may take a |
| sunbathers, dusk might be your best bet after they | | | | day or two depending on how severe the weather |
| have left the beach. In some areas the rule is no | | | | has been. |
| fishing in swimming areas from the time lifeguards go | | | | Now after considering all the best times for surf |
| on duty until the time they go off. | | | | fishing, it's easy to understand how these situations |
| What is the Best Tide Time? | | | | can work together when they occur at the same |
| It's no secret that the tides affect surf fishing. | | | | time. When planning to go surf fishing try to take |
| Moving water at the surf line is good for fishing. High | | | | advantage of the time when several of these |
| tide is best because it's easier to cast out and reach | | | | conditions overlap each other. |
| the deeper water. The window of opportunity is two | | | | |