Gulf Coast Fisherman Magazine Vol 39 No. 1 | Page 13

Introduction to Wells Daily Fishing Forecast Tidal Currents are the horizontal movement of tide waters. This horizontal movement is the most vital factor in marine life. Because currents control the movement of fish food, they are the only advance predictable factor in the movement of our gamefish. All the other minor factors which effect the movement of fish can only be determined on a day-to-day basis. It can be determined when and where the most fish movement will occur on any given day. You can decide whether to fish the deeper reefs, the close to shore feeding areas or the passes from the Gulf. The “why” it works is known to thousands of fishermen who have depended on the Fishing Forecast for 50 years. This explanation is mostly for new (to the Forecast) fishermen but regular users can benefit by reviewing information. It is essential to understand that fish and their food start moving IN and OUT as soon as a tidal current has gained enough horizontal speed to force them in the direction of its flow. The time required for a tidal current to build up to a horizontal speed of at least three tenths of a knot (forcing speed) can be from minutes to several hours. For this reason times given in the column, “Starts”, can never