Garibaldi or CR bar

uboatcdr · 07-08-2003, 06:29 AM

Which would be the better choice, I would be coming from Vancouver for salmon fishing. I have been across tha cr bar but not garibaldi. What do you think.
Thanks [img]graemlins/1zhelp.gif[/img]

Pilar · 07-08-2003, 06:49 AM

Not much of a choice, Sir. The two (IMHO) worst bars on the coast.

Be very aware of tides and avoid the ebb in both places. I would fish CR just because the fishing is wide open there. Hard to come home without a liit of nice fish.

Bait O' Eggs · 07-08-2003, 07:19 AM

I crossed Garibaldi several times last week and made the mistake of crossing an hour before low tide, on a minus tide [img]graemlins/stupid.gif[/img] I was getting lax by running in and out of the bay everyday without any problems. [img]graemlins/stupid.gif[/img] I got into the clutches of the bar and wished I was anywhere else. Swells to close to turn around, nothing breaking, but I couldnt get the nose up to keep from taking on water in the open bow, I couldnt get any speed up to get out of the bar with 4 or 5 foot swells at about 2 seconds. [img]graemlins/stupid.gif[/img]

I was pretty much just holding my spot and not making much headway, after a couple minutes I was thinking I was far enough out to turn North and miss the jetty, I kept looking over my right shoulder to see how far I was past the jetty and the sun was coming up over the ridge and I physically couldnt see the north jetty with the sun and glare on the water as I was looking right at the sun to try and see the jetty. [img]graemlins/stupid.gif[/img]

I was wishing I had put on a lifejacket for one of the only times in my life. [img]graemlins/stupid.gif[/img] I couldnt see the north jetty and the middle ground straight out from the bar is rough and you need to either get north or south to find better water. I finally gave up on going north since I couldnt see the north jetty as I didnt want to get close to the jetty tip. I turned south and got around the south jetty tips and out of the middle ground that is rough.

We ran out about a mile and found 3 foot swells and very calm conditions.

When the tide is going out, Garibaldi can really get rough. The next day (with renewed respect [img]graemlins/stupid.gif[/img] ) we left a few hours earlier to miss the big run off, and watched the bar for a bit before we decided to commit to a crossing.

I was starting to think for the few minutes as I white knuckled the steering wheel on the bar, Darwin was about to come on board. [img]graemlins/stupid.gif[/img]

Pilar · 07-08-2003, 08:14 AM

And that was on a 'nice' day. Think about what it looked like to Doug Davis right before his boat went down. Same ebb tide .... same problem.

Please heed my words, Avoid the ebb tide at Garibaldi and CR.

blackdog · 07-08-2003, 08:24 AM

OK, avoiding the ebb seems like a no-brainer now, especially this weekend with the big runoff. Now, the question I have is what will be the time to cross? Low tide at Barview is listed at 6:22 Am (according to the 'interactive tide chart'). Is crossing on low slack on a day like this generally tough and waiting until it turns a better idea? The marine forecast doesn't look too bad but definitely want to be safe with the bar, so what will the time be?

And, yeah, I will have my PFD on!

uboatcdr · 07-08-2003, 08:28 AM

Thanks Pilar

I will take your advice.
See you on the water.
Pete

Robalo Bill · 07-08-2003, 08:39 AM

If the rough bar lights aren't on and it looks safe I will cross at Garibaldi. That is with a seaworthy boat. If you're able to cross but the ocean has 6ft swell with 4ft windchop, you're probably wasting your time fishing. Factor in all conditions, water that is acceptable to blue water hulls may put open sleds at risk. Have someone take you across if possible and have them point out the hazards. Safe boating.

Bill

Pete · 07-08-2003, 08:50 AM

The rule of thumb for me is "the light is green from one hour after low slack to one hour before high slack". Wind and high seas can turn it from green to yellow or red. Crossing on an outgoing or dropping tide will give you the worst conditions. Remember, we're just fishing for fun and there's no reason to risk life and limb just for fun. Play it safe and play again tomorrow!

Pilar · 07-08-2003, 09:07 AM

The issue with the ebb other than the water getting shallow on the bar is the flow. Fresh water from the rivers and the tide leaving the bay make the flow highest during ebb.

The calmest times are from an hour after low slack (note: this is not always true, you may have to wait longer) to an hour after high slack. The max bar conditions occur from 3 hours after high slack till low slack.

Garibaldi is notorious for a rough bar. The Coast Guard is very protective and even more so lately with the recent deaths. They will restrict the bar under any hazardous condition. When I fished there alot I planned my trips for the 1/2 moon weekends and avoided the new and full moon weekends.

Tidal flow is maximum when the moon is full or new. Biggest change in water height = biggest flow. Buy a tide table and learn how to read it.

CAPT KUJO · 07-08-2003, 10:01 AM

Both those bars turn deadly without a minutes notice. I launched out of Nehalem last week end on a minus tide, there wasn't a breaker big enough to swamp my 15 footer let alone the BLACK ROCKET. BUT you're basicly "picking your own poison. Good Luck. Boat Safe.

CAPT KUJO

Pilar · 07-08-2003, 12:20 PM

Rip-n-Lips, low slack is when the water stops moving. Crab bobbers and navigation bouys have no wake on them and the bar is as calm as it can be without the current.

It depends on conditions when exactly this happens. Usually within 1/2 hour to an hour of low tide by the book.

The tide has a huge impact on ocean conditions as well. Has anyone else noticed that near high tide the conditions generally improve and the wind often lays down?

CATCH AND EAT · 07-08-2003, 12:27 PM

Be especially careful this weekend off the columbia. Big high tide at 12:10 am of 9.14 and a huge low tide of -2.39 right at 7:07 am. :shocked: at the A jetty fort Canby. Add to that a 10 to 15 knot wind that is predicted and it could be very very ugly.

I am meeting my crew at 7 am that Sunday morning and will make a call to the CG for a Bar and Ocean report before heading out. We may not even see the ocean until 9am. Be careful out there Sunday folks.

BTW, anyone know if claming is open again up there or not? I'm to dumb to have checked yet.

Pitch Pocket · 07-08-2003, 03:07 PM

Here are the tide and current tables for the Columbia River Bar for this Saturday.

If you study the tide table on the left you see that low tide is listed at 6:24 am. However, if you study the current table on the right, you see that low slack (where the graph crosses �0�) is not until about 8:15 am or nearly 2 hours later.

The maximum ebb (what the coast guard warns you about) is at 4:30 am. It is not the maximum low tide; it is the maximum ebb when the tide is ripping out the fastest. That is generally well before the low tide.

I think you can actually consider crossing the bar at 8:00 am or later. No guarantees, but the maximum ebb is well over and the tide is starting to slow and turn, generally calming conditions.

It is a real ripper this weekend though. Maximum ebb is over 4.5 knots, only .5 knots less than the fateful day at Garabaldi. It is always more extreme on the full and new moon.

I always look before leaping over the bar. If it looks good, and the tide is turning to come in, it�s probably a good bet that you will be fine. When in doubt, don't.

Miss B Haven · 07-08-2003, 03:14 PM

Steve- You still heading out tomorrow??

D-OH! [img]graemlins/stupid.gif[/img] That was today you wanted to go right? Tues July 8th, it sure feels like Monday to me! :depressed:

[ 07-08-2003, 04:22 PM: Message edited by: Miss B Haven ]

Pitch Pocket · 07-08-2003, 03:27 PM

Not tomorrow Mel. When the lumber gods want to tip cash in my direction, I have to have the basket open. It's been a good week so I'm going to play the hot roll.

I hope to get to Newport/Depoe Bay Saturday or Sunday for a tuna exploration, but we're leaving for the San Juans Thursday the 17th for a week, so........too bad there are only so many hours in a day.

I'll be back at Warrenton first of August anyway.

Miss B Haven · 07-08-2003, 03:32 PM

The TUNA will be thick as thieves by August Steve. You proly won't even be able to go fish them. Dang things will be getting in your prop and stuff there'll be so many. :shocked:

See ya -

Pitch Pocket · 07-08-2003, 03:38 PM

We'll be catching them at B10!

Miss B Haven · 07-08-2003, 03:43 PM

Funny you say that, the river was 61 degrees as we were heading out. Then we hit 49 degree water on the way outside. We were thinking we should turn around and pull some feathers back at the bouys! Wonder what the fish cops would have to say about that?? :shocked: :grin:

bllelk · 07-08-2003, 03:43 PM

Damn good posts Guys.

Snapshot · 07-08-2003, 08:34 PM

This river fisherman wants to thank all of you that asked the questions I have been wanting to ask but didn't. Uh, Do we have ebb tides on the Clack? [img]graemlins/stupid.gif[/img] that's me. I have forgotten so much about the salt that I really need great posts like this one. I had not been to the ocean but once in the last 15 years. That was last year with Catcha and Eat and I no longer had those sea legs. I am working on getting them back and have been out twice this year and going agian this weekend.

Where will I find the most fish? CR or Newport? Yes, I can handle either with my boat and if it looks bad, I get sad and stay in.

Besides I really like those late tides as I can sleep in and still go out at 8 or so from what I read.

Thanks again and I will be on the water and not in it. Just not sure which way to go.

*Fish only bite wet hooks*

Rip'N'Lips · 07-08-2003, 11:33 PM

Ok, then here is my dumb question. When I look a the tide book and it says low at 5:14 am, is that low, low slack or what?

Thanks,

Rip'N'Lips

Miss B Haven · 07-08-2003, 11:56 PM

That's low tide (height wise). The current will slack ABOUT an hour after that. If it's a big run and a big swell in the Ocean you might have to wait even longer before the water comes back over the bar enough to smooth it out some.

[ 07-08-2003, 01:53 PM: Message edited by: Miss B Haven ]

Miss B Haven · 07-09-2003, 08:43 AM

snapshot said: "Where will I find the most fish? CR or Newport?"

If you're like me, won't matter. Wherever you are the fish are someplace else! :depressed:

If me was you and you lived in Tualitin and me was driving I'd be taking you on the shortest drive cause me and you would rather spend that time sleeping or fishing rather than us driving down the hwy. The whole ocean is full of fish!

NorthRiverS · 07-09-2003, 04:26 PM

Pitch,
Is there a web site to view the information and graphs you discussed?
NS

Gus Orviston · 07-09-2003, 04:42 PM

I will be in the CR bay Sunday about 9AM watching for the 10 o'clock conditions. Planning on getting my booty back inside before the mid high slack for sure.

Weather/winds permitting of course.

C&E will be looking for you on radio.

gus

[ 07-09-2003, 05:43 PM: Message edited by: Gus Orviston ]

Miss B Haven · 07-09-2003, 04:45 PM

NorthriverS - It's "Tides & Currents", a software program by "Nautical Software Inc" 503 579-1414. Inof is a little old, I've had mine fro quite a while. Hope they're still around. I've never seen current data avial. on the web (or for free).

PS- it's not very expensive (or wasn't) and good until 2099, you think we'll still be fishin' in 2100?

Snapshot · 07-09-2003, 04:58 PM

Thanks Miss B., you being me got it right. They are where I, you being me or us, aint. I also agree the shorter the drive for now the bedder.. Key ta catchin mo fesh is ta be in da wader...da longar da bedder......

*Fish only bite wet hooks*

[ 07-09-2003, 06:00 PM: Message edited by: snapshot ]

Pitch Pocket · 07-09-2003, 05:20 PM

It is Nobeltec Tides and Currents. Check it out at Nobeltec

With both the tides and currents for a particular area, you won't have to guess-timate when slack will occur or when the bar might settle down. You have some real data to work with.

However, predictions are just that, predictions. It gives you a very good idea how things will go. You have to add the current conditions like runoff and dam activity, but it can only do so much.

I've waited for the tide to turn per the predictions for hours when there is a lot of water in the CR. Weather like this....it's probably pretty close.