I was having a discussion about tide times with someone this weekend and we’re sorta stumped. If, let’s say on 7/25, high tide at New River is at 11:04 am and high tide at New Topsail is at 11:08 am, then what time is high tide in the ICW at Surf City? Same thing for low tide, if Low tide is at 5:12pm at New River and 5:55pm at New Topsail, then when is low tide at Surf City? Since we do a lot of skinny water fishing, we’re trying to learn how to figure the tides in the ICW versus the Inlets. The same question also arises for New River, how do you figure high/low tide for the river?

I would appreciate any help anyone (TA) can give.

Thanks a lot guys,

Can’t give you an exact answer but the tides at Surf City are closed to inverted from the two inlets (SC bridge is about equal in distance from the two inlets).  Keep in mind that most inlets have a have a shorter high tide cycle (usually around 5 1/2 hours to 6 hours) where as the low tide cycle will be about 6 to 6 1/2 hours.  So a close answer would be that when it is low tide at SC Bridge it is high at the inlets and vice versa.

As to the river -it varies a LOT as you would expect.  In Jacksonville there is very little tidal change, SW creek has almost no change especially one you get away from the mouth.  I’m not sure of the exact time of the other areas - Breadman can probably give you better info on the river tide differences.

Thanks Mike. I felt sure you would be able to shed some light on this. So if I am understanding what you wrote, when it’s high tide at one of the inlets then it will be low tide around SC. Using the example from my first post, that means that Saturday, low tide around SC will be around 11:00am.

Breadman, you got any info about New River?

Thanks again