Best Time to cross Astoria Bar

No Wishin Just Fishin · 08-12-2003, 09:09 PM

Fri High is at 430 am Still safe to cross at 530?? Then stay out until low slack??

TideRipper · 08-12-2003, 10:23 PM

I answered this question on the "Ifish Community Forum". Check it out. Here is my short answer.

Yes, should be safe to cross at 5:30 (about high slack) provided that you can see, and conditions are good.

No, it's never safe to be out there in a small boat during the ebb. What if you need to come back?

Out and back on the same incoming tide is the safest bet.

graybeard · 08-13-2003, 08:49 PM

TideRipper

If 4:30 is high, then 5:30 would be into the ebb tide, right? Not a good time to be crossing the bar headed out.

[ 08-13-2003, 09:51 PM: Message edited by: graybeard ]

TideRipper · 08-13-2003, 09:43 PM

Graybeard,

Thats right, but the tide would be either at high slack or it is just starting to ebb. The current would probably still be quite slow. So, even though it may still be possible to cross at that time, it is not recommended because you would be on the ocean while the tide is ebbing, and you may not be able to come back if the ocean conditions change.

It is safest to go out at the begining of the incoming tide and come back at the end it.

Slugranch · 08-14-2003, 05:20 AM

At 5:30,,,,,the bar will still be dark, and the Coast Guard will not have made their morning boat ride to check bar conditions. Best fish in the river,,,,,,,,,

Miss B Haven · 08-14-2003, 08:00 AM

Slack current Friday is at 4:42 am (off Clatsop Spit). At 5:30 the ebb will just barely be started, should be OK. Make sure you have good visibility before you commit.

No Wishin Just Fishin · 08-17-2003, 05:59 PM

thanks for the advice guys. Prob would have been ok early but was 6 foot at buoy 8 so we waited until 10 and was almost flat. Got into them pretty good

TideRipper · 08-17-2003, 10:58 PM

No Wishin,

Glad to see you played it smart and waited. It sounds as though you followed the red buoys out as many others do including myself. However, I almost always skip #8 because I don't like the angle at which it leaves me to cross over to #6. Instead, I pass #10, first noting the strength and direction of the tide and then head directly for #6. By doing so, I not only shorten the distance to cross, but hit the NW swell at a better angle. I also try to stay in at least 30' of water, any shallower and I know that I'm getting too close to the South Jetty. You will see many boats cutting way over by the jetty, but in my opinion they are too close. If they have motor trouble, the incoming tide will push them into the jetty or back to the breakers at Clatsop Spit.

[ 08-17-2003, 11:58 PM: Message edited by: TideRipper ]