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Not talking 'bout 'Bama. In a shallow draft craft like my new ODC 420, can I expect to not be at the mercy of tides in coastal bays? Here's why I ask: In my old U-boat, I was belly button deep in the water, and my big butt was a drag, making the going a lot slower. Last summer I took my float to Norfolk, VA, to cross a channel and reach a wadeable flat. When the tide went out, I had to "walk" way up the channel, then kick as hard as I could to diagonally cross back before being swept out to sea. Don't want to risk that again, but the ODC seems a lot faster. Anybody have experience at defeating a tide in an ODC type craft?
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Wow man, thats some crazy stuff.
Just watch out. Always be safe on the ocean.
Peter
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[cool][#0000ff]I have fished salt water on the Pacific and Atlantic coasts, in the Gulf of Mexico and the Sea of Cortez. I have a few "fun" stories about getting unplanned rides or being stuck for hours waiting for a tide to change. Tidal flows can be very strong and it does not make any difference what kind of craft you are in. If the flow is faster than you can move against with available propulsion...fins, oars or motor...you will have to "go with the flow".[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Short answer...an open front craft offers no real advantage in fighting tidal (or river) flows. The only possible exception is that by riding higher you have less body mass below the water line to be pushed by the current...and get greater efficiency in kicking with your fins. But, it is pointless to try to swim up current.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]As I admonish in my book, you should never challenge strong currents. You will exhaust yourself while going nowhere. When you determine that you are in trouble. Move diagonally to get to shore and get out of the water. Then either trudge your gear back or wait out the tidal change.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Good arguments for using the tide charts and knowing your intended fishing spot well. Plan your trips to move you first in one direction and then to return you to home base on the returning tide. Don't kick too far away on a slack tide and then get caught having to fight your way back against a building tide running the wrong direction.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Once, in the Sea of Cortez, I was fishing and not paying attention to the tide. That is a long narrow body of water and during peak high and low tide periods the water flows fast and hard in some narrow spots. I was fishing near a point, inside a small bay. The building flow sucked me out of my protected area and out into the main current. I could not believe how fast I was zinging down the shoreline. I kicked hard to get back close to shore and almost got ground up on the rocks getting out of the water. I had to wait there for several hours for the tide to turn before I could get back in the water and return to my vehicle. And, I was the only one on the beach for miles in that remote area. I was literally "up the creek".[/#0000ff]
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You guys talking about fishing in the ocean.
I have the beach about 30 min. from my house with
some great fishing in the calp beds.
But there are animals (sharks, sea liens.....) that
can really mess you up.
BTW-sharks, I mean big leopard sharks and sometimes
gray whites come close to shore, also maico shark.
Sea lions up the a$$ and they like to ''taste'' things.
I dont know man.................
Just my 2c.
Peter
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[quote peter805]But there are animals (sharks, sea liens.....) that can really mess you up. [/quote]
As a displaced wader who misses full-contact fishing, battling brutes on their terms, I understand such problems. That's why I shy away from surf fishing. But sharks don't venture into the bays where I'd fish. I'm more concerned with rays' barbs and jellyfish stings, not to mention lacerations from stumbling on oyster reefs. Such shells and varments make me only want to use a float to cross deeper water to get to wadeable flats for Reds and Specs.
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[cool][#0000ff]Unlike most tubers, I began my tubing career by fishing in an old inner tube off the beaches of southern California. I never fished fresh water from my tube until I had been tubing salt water for several years. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I have fished all the bays and estuaries along the Pacific coastline and along much of the Gulf of Mexico. When people ask me "What about sharks?" I say "Let them look out for themselves."[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Never heard of a tuber getting bit by sharks. But, I also never consciously launch in waters where I am liable to find any of the more aggressive and dangerous ones...tigers, bulls or whites. The others are usually more open water species not likely to be found inshore where most tubing takes place. Leopards are not potentially dangerous, unless you put your fingers in their mouth while unhooking them. Stingrays should not be brought close enough to stick you or your craft. Cut them loose.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Fact: Dogs, horses, cattle and even pigs kill more people every year than sharks. And, if you have a fear of danger, don't drive your vehicle on any road with other vehicles on it. Have you checked the stats for auto deaths each year in your area?[/#0000ff]
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I have been able to defeat the tide using a very small pontoon and motor. There is a less drag without feet in the water and a smaller surface contact to slow you compared to ODC type. Tubedude's comments are right on as usual, especially about timing the tides and moving diagonally. We don't have much danger from predators in the maximum shin deep flats that go for miles in the gulf coast for Corpus Christi area. More trouble with wind than tides and sometimes have to pause because of weed fouling the prop. That's because one can troll across the short distances of dredged and natural channels with high power even against the strongest tides, but fighting wind and waves takes some planning. Fins don't work because too shallow, and oars can only work WITH an angle favoring the wind or tide. Don't like walking the shallows because of sting rays. A small anchor or small shallow running drift sock is usually the best way to work an area. Highway overpasses provide some calmer areas where dozens of boats gather.
Hope this helps.
Pon
[quote revrusty]Not talking 'bout 'Bama. In a shallow draft craft like my new ODC 420, can I expect to not be at the mercy of tides in coastal bays? Here's why I ask: In my old U-boat, I was belly button deep in the water, and my big butt was a drag, making the going a lot slower. Last summer I took my float to Norfolk, VA, to cross a channel and reach a wadeable flat. When the tide went out, I had to "walk" way up the channel, then kick as hard as I could to diagonally cross back before being swept out to sea. Don't want to risk that again, but the ODC seems a lot faster. Anybody have experience at defeating a tide in an ODC type craft?[/quote]
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[quote pontoonman]I have been able to defeat the tide using a very small pontoon and motor. There is a less drag without feet in the water and a smaller surface contact to slow you compared to ODC type. Tubedude's comments are right on as usual, especially about timing the tides and moving diagonally. We don't have much danger from predators in the maximum shin deep flats that go for miles in the gulf coast for Corpus Christi area. More trouble with wind than tides and sometimes have to pause because of weed fouling the prop. That's because one can troll across the short distances of dredged and natural channels with high power even against the strongest tides, but fighting wind and waves takes some planning. Fins don't work because too shallow, and oars can only work WITH an angle favoring the wind or tide. Don't like walking the shallows because of sting rays. A small anchor or small shallow running drift sock is usually the best way to work an area. Highway overpasses provide some calmer areas where dozens of boats gather.
Hope this helps.
Pon
Would you have any pictures of the shallows you
talking about?
I sure would love to see it.
Thank you
Peter
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Yeah, I am still waiting for pictures also[  ]
A light did go on Pontoonman. I was at Port Aransas a few years back. First off, why would you want to float the shallows? You can walk out quite a ways. That bay was full of jelly fish and other stingers, but I understood it to be the time of year. Maybe it is all the time, I don't know. But, I certainly couldn't vision a pontoon in those waters.
On the way back we did go over the Bridge to Corpus and stop a few places on the way back to San Antonio.
Gotta say, love those "SHEEP HEAD".
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Peter, don't have any pictures less than 8 years old, but similar to the bonefish flats of Fl but with slightly green to darker tinged water mixed with marshy in others. Only halfway hospitable time (IMHO) is 4hr RT, 3 week window for me in the Spring or Fall, so I quit going there and haven't missed it yet.
[quote flygoddess]Yeah, I am still waiting for pictures also[ ]
A light did go on Pontoonman. I was at Port Aransas a few years back. First off, why would you want to float the shallows? Don't use waders (BTW, my sandaled feet are dry and out of water 99% of the time!), don't care to carry/wade with lots cumbersome gear (need TD's type setup + something for live bait sometimes), can't get to better flats without crossing sections of long, narrow, deep water channels on public property, don't want to wear kevlar leggings for sting ray protection, cover more area in sit down comfort and possible shade, float over hazards like a few quicksand like areas and occasional deep holes, explore underfished areas where the powerboats can't go.... The Fall flounder etc. runs are about the only time you can do well wade gigging or from piers/shore without some kind of boat.
You can walk out quite a ways. Just hope you don't forget or drop/leave behind anything you're  dled down with, the RT is not much fun. See above hazards for walking. Would get lots of questions on where to get my rig every time I was out.
That bay was full of jelly fish and other stingers, but I understood it to be the time of year. Yep, jellies are mostly surf which is powerboat/pier territory anyway and stay above stingers in a pontoon.
Maybe it is all the time, I don't know. Minor part of the time. But, I certainly couldn't vision a pontoon in those waters.
On the way back we did go over the Bridge to Corpus and stop a few places on the way back to San Antonio.
Gotta say, love those "SHEEP HEAD" Yea, SH about as ugly as they come, I liked the flounder for ugly and speckled for beauty the best..[/quote]
Pon
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[quote pontoonman]Would you have any pictures of the shallows you
talking about?
I sure would love to see it.[/quote]
Why yes I do! This aerial photo gives you an idea of the maze of shallow "rivers" and spoil islands behind the lighthouse aross the causeway running out to Port Aransas. An outdoor writer, "Biscuit Wheels" by nickname, showed me the secret to catching Redfish the year around in the Corpus Christi area. He took me on a couple canoe trips into that area. We launched from the causeway past the bait shops, as I remember, across the shrimpboat channel into an opening between the spoil islands. Mullet was plentiful there, and we used two-drop rigs, casting into sandy areas in the many "lakes." Shortly thereafter the Lord whisked me away to preach and become as pastor. I've only been back once and, not having a canoe, used a belly boat to bob across the choppy channel to reach the opening. I didn't want to get out of the donut in the muck or risk shashing it on oyster shells in the maze, so I just sat in the opening with one line deep in the channel and another in the maze. I got lucky and hooked a good sized Red. I raised my feet and let him tow me in the water -- until realizing he was taking me out into the busy channel where shrimpboats zip through. You know, I'd do it again.
In the picture, you're looking from the Port Aransas area across the Copus Christi ship channel. You can see the causeway and shrimpboat channel running horizontal near the top -- left toward the ferries, right toward Aransas Pass and the shore. The water at top on the far side of the causeway is Redfish Bay. The opening we used to enter the area may not be shown.
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oh wow, thats great !. I can see some good fishing there.
Thank you so much for the picture.
Sincerely Peter.
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