mseschelweck Loc: Smyrna DE

What is the best tide for surf fishing??

tuboshu Loc: Kennebunk, Maine

That's a good question with no good answer. I've fished different areas on the Maine coast. Here in the Kennebunk area, half tide going seems to be best. Down east, in Rockland/Thomaston, half tide coming gets better results. My philosophy is, if you have a free moment, go fishing.

Flytier Loc: Wilmington Delaware

I've caught really nice fish at dead high, and at dead low and pretty much anywhere in between. That said, I try to fish the last half incoming and the first half going out. If that coincides with sunup or sundown so much the better

kandydisbar Loc: West Orange, NJ

I'm with Fly on this one though my catching record this summer has not been the greatest, lol~

ripogenu Loc: norfolk, MA

Tubo is right. guess it depends on the location and species. At one beach outgoing at sunrise with dead low 8-9 am. at another location incoming at sunrise with dead high 7-8am. Fish when you can, catch with a smile.

bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

I have caught fish in the California surf at many different tide phases. The best tide was what ever it was when I could get to the beach after the 2:20 closing bell at school. If given a choice, I find that drift fishing or setting crab traps from a boat (did not seem to matter so much in surf) the best time is when the current slackens enough to fish the bottom with a 1 pound or less weight to when the current gets to strong to fish a one pound weight. That is for halibut and lings up to 250 feet. I hate fishing bigger weights. When fishing bottom Fish ie. flatfish and greenling, I like the same time frame both tides in 40 to 100 feet My preference is a 1 oz. weight, but I increase size as needed. I quit and move to a less current area when I can not hold the bottom drifting with a 10 oz. weight I usually fish flatfish with a heavy trout or med. freshwater bass rig. My favorite depth is 40 to 60 feet. I drop my crab pots in that same depth. I also move the pots when I can not fish a 10 oz. weight as the crabs dig into the bottom and wait for the next tide to feed when the current gets to strong. Note: if there are Dungeness crabs at a spot, there are also sole. That is just a hint on where to fish flatfish.

bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

I forgot to mention that my target surf fish were perch, red tail, rainbow, silver and a few others. I also on occasion got mackerl and surf smelt. Unexpected catches included leapord sharks, salmon, halibut and skate.

NJ219bands Loc: New Jersey

High tide is best.

UncleRob Loc: NE Maryland

The best tide is the one where the fish are there. I don't surf fish anymore because the fish show up when they damn well please when migrating.

Bock1019 Loc: Smyrna Delaware

I always like a moving tide no matter what it is. But some areas i fish the fresh clean water coming from the ocean into canals or rivers during a high tide triggers a bite. Then also a falling tide back in the marshes triggers a good flounder bite with them feeding on bait being washed out of the grass and marshes.