S.W. Florida TIDECHARTS Innacurate?

[Kymasabe]

I've been picking up tidecharts at my local bait shops and been checking online and it seems that at times, they're not accurate at all. Seemed better during the summer (during traditionally higher tides) but for the past couple of months, have found myself in extremely low tides when the chart says it should have been on the rise for hours and therefore, safe to navigate.

Anyone have an accurate online source of tide information?

 

[gcboat]

Re: S.W. Florida TIDECHARTS Innacurate?

http://www02.coconet.com:8080/locations/3197.html


That's the one I have for Matanzas Pass, so far so good but not really to the minute - if you will. Snoop around the website and plug in your location and let me know if the differences are the same. I'm finding it to be 1/2 hour off on the incoming high and almost 45 minutes off on the first ebb. Not scientific by any stretch of the imagination, strictly observation. They are supposed to have all of the moon phases in there but I've been wondering if our onshore winds haven't been playing it a liitle funny. But they do make a disclaimer concerning winds, etc. Guess you just can't fool Mother Nature.

 

[Mike Robinson]

Re: S.W. Florida TIDECHARTS Innacurate?

I'm not familiar with your locale, but if you haven't already, may I suggest you check where the reference station location is for the tide table you are using in relation to the spot that you are using it for. (The reference station should be marked on your local marine charts) The tide can vary considerably from location to location. Things like barometric pressure and strong prevailing winds will also affect the tides which of course cannot be predicted.

Hope this helps!