Tidal Freshwater

YouCanCallMeIggs · 11-01-2009, 04:03 PM

I've fished a fair amount in tidal sections of the Delaware, and have found the fishing to be more like saltwater than freshwater.

The fish seem to move a lot more throughout a given tide, like in the salt. The bass I have caught have fought much harder than a lake or river bass of the same size, and I've also had a couple of great days where the action was super hot. I've also seen some huge catfish caught, stripers, even a nice bowfin.

Anyone fish tidal freshwater frequently have any insights into how the fish in these areas feed?

Dirtypenny725 · 11-01-2009, 10:16 PM

I'm no Freshwater Tidal expert, but having fished the Maurice River through the years, it seems as though the fish seem to almost always feed on the outgoing tide. Reason being is the little creeks and branches are emptying out and the bait fish are forced out of those areas. In turn, the bass or any other predatory fish, sit on the outsides of these spots and have a feast. Again, just my pesonal experiences.

XxDamienxX · 11-01-2009, 11:42 PM

I've been on or around the maurice river most my life . Seems like its a big cycle to me .The smallest aquatic life gets washed in by the tide ..grass shrimp,minnows and the like then the perch come in to eat them and the stripers and other larger fish seek the perch and so on and so on.. I've never cought much of anything on a slack tide , allways when its moving .Just a guess I'm no expert myself

YouCanCallMeIggs · 11-02-2009, 10:28 AM

Both of those observations hold true for myself, too.

Also I have noticed, especially in an estuary I fish just south of the airport, the huge 6.5 ft. tide leaves the water very murky in all areas on the incoming tide. On the end of the outgoing in many areas the sediment has settled and the water is crystal clear.

I'm sure that affects the fish's behavior, too.

Dirtypenny725 · 11-02-2009, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YouCanCallMeIggs

Both of those observations hold true for myself, too.

Also I have noticed, especially in an estuary I fish just south of the airport, the huge 6.5 ft. tide leaves the water very murky in all areas on the incoming tide. On the end of the outgoing in many areas the sediment has settled and the water is crystal clear.

I'm sure that affects the fish's behavior, too.

I'm sure any time ONE of a fish's senses are obscured, that they won't bite as aggressively or "normal".

YouCanCallMeIggs · 11-02-2009, 06:56 PM

That's a good point..

JMcKnight · 11-03-2009, 04:14 PM

as far as stripers go on the delaware,we seem to do better when the tide is coming in

YouCanCallMeIggs · 11-03-2009, 06:04 PM

Why, do you think?

The only pattern I have picked up on is fishing around low tide in the spring when the water is still cold-cool, especially if low tide falls late in the day and the water has been heating.

JMcKnight · 11-03-2009, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YouCanCallMeIggs

Why, do you think?

The only pattern I have picked up on is fishing around low tide in the spring when the water is still cold-cool, especially if low tide falls late in the day and the water has been heating.

hard to say,we do ok during low tide also.when the spring striper run comes it doesn't matter we going fishing high or low

11-01-2009, 04:03 PM	#1
YouCanCallMeIggs Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ridley, PA Posts: 81	Tidal Freshwater I've fished a fair amount in tidal sections of the Delaware, and have found the fishing to be more like saltwater than freshwater. The fish seem to move a lot more throughout a given tide, like in the salt. The bass I have caught have fought much harder than a lake or river bass of the same size, and I've also had a couple of great days where the action was super hot. I've also seen some huge catfish caught, stripers, even a nice bowfin. Anyone fish tidal freshwater frequently have any insights into how the fish in these areas feed?

11-03-2009, 04:14 PM	#7
JMcKnight Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: ne phila Posts: 576	as far as stripers go on the delaware,we seem to do better when the tide is coming in __________________

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11-01-2009, 10:16 PM	#2
Dirtypenny725 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 1,436	I'm no Freshwater Tidal expert, but having fished the Maurice River through the years, it seems as though the fish seem to almost always feed on the outgoing tide. Reason being is the little creeks and branches are emptying out and the bait fish are forced out of those areas. In turn, the bass or any other predatory fish, sit on the outsides of these spots and have a feast. Again, just my pesonal experiences.

11-01-2009, 11:42 PM	#3
XxDamienxX Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Millville, NJ Posts: 150	I've been on or around the maurice river most my life . Seems like its a big cycle to me .The smallest aquatic life gets washed in by the tide ..grass shrimp,minnows and the like then the perch come in to eat them and the stripers and other larger fish seek the perch and so on and so on.. I've never cought much of anything on a slack tide , allways when its moving .Just a guess I'm no expert myself

11-02-2009, 10:28 AM	#4
YouCanCallMeIggs Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ridley, PA Posts: 81	Both of those observations hold true for myself, too. Also I have noticed, especially in an estuary I fish just south of the airport, the huge 6.5 ft. tide leaves the water very murky in all areas on the incoming tide. On the end of the outgoing in many areas the sediment has settled and the water is crystal clear. I'm sure that affects the fish's behavior, too.

11-02-2009, 06:56 PM	#6
YouCanCallMeIggs Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ridley, PA Posts: 81	That's a good point..

11-03-2009, 06:04 PM	#8
YouCanCallMeIggs Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ridley, PA Posts: 81	Why, do you think? The only pattern I have picked up on is fishing around low tide in the spring when the water is still cold-cool, especially if low tide falls late in the day and the water has been heating.