Neap tides

[markt1225]

Can someone explain in simple terms to a novice like me what implications neap tides will have on fishing in our parts?

 

[adam.d]

Just means its a small tide so less tidal movement

 

[andyco]

Can someone explain in simple terms to a novice like me what implications neap tides will have on fishing in our parts?

From your post it sounds like you are saying neap tides are going to happen, but havent happened yet, or for a while. But we get neaps and springs every month.....


The moon takes about a month (1 lunar month) to move around the earth.

When the moon, earth and sun are in a straight line we get spring tides (more gravitational pull from the sun and the moon together).

When the moon, earth and sun are at a 'right angle' we get neap tides (sun pulling one way, moon pulling 'to the side').

So we get neaps twice a month and springs twice a month, every month (spring, neap, spring, neap, every month).

As for the affect on fish....ask a fisherman . (there's obviously a lot more movement on a spring, it goes from very low to very high, and vice versa, but there is a lot less tidal difference between high and low or low and high on a neap tide) I guess more movement probably means more fish feeding.

 

[magpies]

The other thing to consider is access to marks. Some low tide rock marks can only be reached on spring tide lows because thats the only time the tide goes down far enough.

 

[Moonfleet Angling]

neaps

neaps

an old term I learned as a kid was springs are highest high and lowest low and neap tides are highest low and lowest high, the day after the full moon is the highest tide in the cycle of a spring and day after smallest moon is the smallest tidal movement in the cycle, fish just take the micky and you think you have it sussed about when they feed and all of a sudden they just stop for no reason, I guess thats why its called fishing and not catching

Paul

 

[boysandtheirtoys]

Spring tides (large tidal movement) occur both just after full moon and also just after new moon (i.e. close to smallest moon). Neap tides (smallest tidal movement) occur just after first quarter and last quarter.

cheers
m

the day after the full moon is the highest tide in the cycle of a spring and day after smallest moon is the smallest tidal movement in the cycle

 

[Dilbertd]

One of the main things to consider is that beaches can be better on spring (bigger) tides (deeper water and more tide movement) and rock marks can be exposed more when the tide goes out on spring tides. Neap tides (smaller tides) can be good times to fish river marks as the tidal pull is lower (in and out). Usually on bigger tides river marks can only be fished an hour either side of high water or low water other wise your gear gets ripped away. On Neap tides river marks are more fishable for longer (maybe right though with grip leads in some places). My two penneth