Calculating Slack Tides

[bvgas]

Can someone please clarify how one calculates the time of slack tides from tide & current tables?

I understand how to use the tide charts to calculate times of High & Low tides (Example - Eldridge Book). I can follow the current charts to calculate when the Flood & Ebb currents should start. The current charts mention that the Ebb & Flood currents will have maximum velocity for up to 2 1/2 hours after starting in my area (Long Island) - I'm not sure if this infers that they flow for 2 1/2 hours once they begin and then slack would represent the time after this and before the corresponding next Flood or Ebb begins or if they imply that the respective Flood or Ebb current will flow maximally for 2 1/2 hours and then gradually slow down after that to an eventual "slack" before reversing.

Are there charts that list the predicted times of slack tide for given areas?

Thanks for any help clarifying

 

[dingbat]

Re: Calculating Slack Tides

There are far too many variables involved in tidal flow to accurately determine when or for how long a flood or ebb current will flow on any given day. It's quite common to see wind totally negate the effects of both an ebb and flood tides.

Local knowledge and experience of the effects of wind is a tremendous help but even then you?re still only making and an educated guess based on prior observations. The best advise I can give if your going out fishing is to arrive early and stay late