Tides & moon

On the ‘full moon’ and ‘new or dark of the moon’ you usually have more extreme tide changes called Spring tides.

In between these phases you have the quarter moons which usually have more subtle tide changes called Neep tides.

For bonefish you want an incoming tide in the AM.

The tide changes later ~45 minutes every day.

We don’t like a full moon for tarpon.

The 3 days after the full moon are great for bonefish at Christmas Island in the Central Pacific.

You need a lot of tide to get enough water on the shallow flat for permit. A new moon or dark of the moon is supposed to be best. Full moon could be good too.

If you plan a bonefish trip on one the quarter moons with the Neep tides you will have more hours where the flats are not flooded too much or bone dry.

A good tide exchange is good for predators like stripers, jacks, snook, tarpon because it gets the bait moving.

At tide that is moving early or late in the day can be good for predators because of the low light conditions.


I would read everything you can find on this subject.