Tides?

[phill_itofish]

Have been doing a bit of reading up about boat fishing, and i understand fish will hold around features like wrecks and wholes, and that they will most likely be taking shelter from the tidal pull in these areas but how do you tell which way the tide is pulling? is it as simple as if the tide is going out its the seaward side and vise verse or is it like i think and alot more complex than that?

[Charlie_Thompson]

I think the tides run up and down our coast? Elsewhere it's even more complex like *Ahem Rattray Head*

[ScottyJim]

Is it like i think and alot more complex than that?

You are definitely right about it being more complex. In general terms the tide floods from the north in most places up here. This is then impacted on by the ground the tide flows over and around. A feature such as a headland or large underwater reef can deflect it locally to a totally different direction on either ebb, flood or both. The strength of the tide can vary between ebb and flood. On a local mark beside me there is a negligible current on the flood but 5 knot on the ebb. And even the high tide times vary depending on how far off shore you are. It can almost be hours different from the harbour times. To find out about these tidal stream and strength variations check out your Admiralty Charts. You'll find tables of them .around the edge of the chart.