Fort baker this weekend

I’ve got about 10 halibut, rock fish and linc cod heads smelling up my freezer. I wasn’t able to make it out last weekend due to weather and this week I’ve been working really wanting to call out. If anyone wants to go under the gates drop some traps and do a some fishing let me know. Never been under the gate and the weather looks good this weekend especially on Sunday

Tides are big-ish this weekend for going under the gate and opposite of preferable tides.  Decent incoming in the morning and big outgoing in the afternoon. 

So you'll be fighting it going out and fighting it harder trying to come back.

The wind looks really mild but don’t completely understand tide charts yet. Tried looking around at different apps and noaa website. I wouldn’t go too far out just trying to get the traps past the bridge.

That's NOT the place to learn what the charts mean. That area is the second most dangerous place on the west coast.

That's NOT the place to learn what the charts mean. That area is the second most dangerous place on the west coast.

Copy that, seems to be a trend in “getting out the gate”.  Not sure the obsession other than seeming epic or iconic or postcardy kinda cool.  Yes it can be done, well planned and buddied up.  There are so many other fishy spots to learn in and catch fish even.  The bay is loaded with deadly lessons if one wants to practice tide and current.  I guess the only bonus of the gate launch would be the proximity of the CG.  It’s not easy to find shallow water in that area where fish dwell.  I couldn’t imagine pulling up a crab pot unless I was in super close at Kirby.  Just the thought makes me want to try easier locations.  That little stretch up to Bonita doesn’t seem targeted by fisherman, at least boaters, maybe not so fishy?

The wind looks really mild but don’t completely understand tide charts yet. Tried looking around at different apps and noaa website. I wouldn’t go too far out just trying to get the traps past the bridge.

What you're looking to learn about is the "tidal coefficient" or "tidal range."  That is the difference between high and low tide.  The time between tides remains the same, so a larger delta means there's a larger volume of water to move into or out of the bay in the same amount of time.  This is what determines current velocity.  Imagine two glasses each with one liter of water in them.  With Glass A, you want to go from 1 liter to 750 milliliters (a delta of 250 mL) and with Glass B, you want to go from 1 L to 250 mL (a delta of 750 mL).  And you want to pour so that it takes exactly 30 seconds to reach your final volume.  As you expect, you'll have to pour Glass B much faster (current speed) to reach that final volume.

Let's take a look at some real data to illustrate this.  When the tidal coeffiicient is high, meaning the height difference between high and low tide is large, then the currents will be more powerful.  Conversely, when the tidal coefficient is low, meaning there's not much difference between high and low tides, then the currents will be less powerful.  This is because there's less water to move out of or into the bay.  We can see that on these two graphs.  The first tide has a delta of about 4.5 feet while the second tide has a delta of about 5.5 feet.  Thus, we see a faster current on the second tide:




Hope that helps you understand and read the charts a bit!

The wind looks really mild but don’t completely understand tide charts yet. Tried looking around at different apps and noaa website. I wouldn’t go too far out just trying to get the traps past the bridge.

What you're looking to learn about is the "tidal coefficient" or "tidal range."  That is the difference between high and low tide.  The time between tides remains the same, so a larger delta means there's a larger volume of water to move into or out of the bay in the same amount of time.  This is what determines current velocity.  Imagine two glasses each with one liter of water in them.  With Glass A, you want to go from 1 liter to 750 milliliters (a delta of 250 mL) and with Glass B, you want to go from 1 L to 250 mL (a delta of 750 mL).  And you want to pour so that it takes exactly 30 seconds to reach your final volume.  As you expect, you'll have to pour Glass B much faster (current speed) to reach that final volume.

Let's take a look at some real data to illustrate this.  When the tidal coeffiicient is high, meaning the height difference between high and low tide is large, then the currents will be more powerful.  Conversely, when the tidal coefficient is low, meaning there's not much difference between high and low tides, then the currents will be less powerful.  This is because there's less water to move out of or into the bay.  We can see that on these two graphs.  The first tide has a delta of about 4.5 feet while the second tide has a delta of about 5.5 feet.  Thus, we see a faster current on the second tide:




Hope that helps you understand and read the charts a bit!

Thanks for your help!

Tedski, you are a technical asset on this forum, I’m sure you have other gifts as well, thanks for that lesson.  I do appreciate knowing the speed of the current knowing that, at best, I can only keep up 3 mph paddling for only so long...

Second everything that has already been said. To emphasize:
1) learn in a milder spot in the bay;
2) time your outings so that the tides help you rather than fight you. For this particular trip, you'd want it the other way around: mild outgoing in the morning so you can get out, and stronger filling tide to help you get back in;
3) low coefficient days are generally safer and more pleasurable an experience, so a better time to learn. You usually want the peak of high tide and the trough of low to be less than 5 feet apart, something like a 5 ft high and a 1.5ft low for example.

Tedski, you are a technical asset on this forum, I’m sure you have other gifts as well, thanks for that lesson.  I do appreciate knowing the speed of the current knowing that, at best, I can only keep up 3 mph paddling for only so long...

No problem!  Glad to share the knowledge I've attained over the years aboard ships and piloting boats.  Near coastal navigation was always super fun for me, so I learned the ins and outs quite well.  Add on a passion for teaching and sharing knowledge on this forum is a treat for me as much as for those receiving the knowledge.

Second everything that has already been said. To emphasize:
1) learn in a milder spot in the bay;
2) time your outings so that the tides help you rather than fight you. For this particular trip, you'd want it the other way around: mild outgoing in the morning so you can get out, and stronger filling tide to help you get back in;
3) low coefficient days are generally safer and more pleasurable an experience, so a better time to learn. You usually want the peak of high tide and the trough of low to be less than 5 feet apart, something like a 5 ft high and a 1.5ft low for example.

I am going to go to fort ross or bodega for linc rock and crab trip. Thanks for the advice. Not trying to die out there...

Tides last weekend were perfect, barely a 1 foot difference in hi/lo.  Hell no this weekend though!  I will say I've done this trip and it's awesome, and very safe on small tide days.  Diablo Cove can be very productive for dungy's in close where bottom is sandy (farther out is rock), and because it's sheltered can even be used for a beach lunch break.  Gotta pick the right day though.

Don't really understand tide charts but want to go outside the gate?

Hmmm.

Everyone has to start somewhere buddy. The point of this website is information. Not everyone can be as expert as you. Keep your snide comments to yourself

Don't really understand tide charts but want to go outside the gate?

Hmmm.

Not knowing how to read a tide chart and extrapolate what that means when you're on the water does not equate to not understanding that a lot of water is leaving a small aperture.  The post is literally asking for help figuring out when and where to go because of the risk. 

Shouldn't we encourage folks to learn how to interpret the information to make informed decisions instead of being condescending?  That way, we can put all of our experience and knowledge together and form a community full of good decision makers.

Wow!  Thanks for the info! I’ll look for somewhere mellower to go out. I was hoping to try for some Dungeness and rockfish this weekend. I live close to Muir Beach but the surf looks pretty big for this inexperienced kayaker to paddle through. Does anyone have any safer suggestions for launching?