Jul 15

Jul 15 Tips: "Why don't you want to fish the ocean this weekend?"

Big tides, rough ocean July 14th & 15th. I am often asked "Why don't you want to fish the ocean this weekend?". This post is about how I determine if I will head to the ocean on a specific day. The first chart is of the tides at Barview, basically Tillamook Bay Bar entrance. You can see below that the tide "swings" are very large this weekend, this would give me concern for a safe, non restricted bar crossing.

Next, the Tillamook Bay Bar Report shows that as of 5:44 a.m. Sunday July 15, 2018, the bar was restricted to vessels 22' and under. Since my boat is 20 feet, I could not have crossed the bar at this time.

The marine point forecast shows what are the expected ocean conditions. NNE wind 8 to 15 kt becoming NNW in the morning. Mostly sunny. NW swell 5 ft at 8 seconds. Wind waves 2 to 3 ft. for Sunday is a rough ocean, for a small boat.

I use all three pieces of information when making a go or no go decision about driving to the ocean to fish. If I am doubtful, I will either pass, or have a back up plan, perhaps crabbing and fishing in the bay, or fishing a nearby lake, etc. Nothing worse than committing time, energy, and money, getting to the launch, and finding out you are not fishing in the ocean as planned.

I like to be safe, first and foremost, even when restrictions may only be for 16' boats and under, I may not go depending on the conditions. Good luck fishing!

Here is a link to drone footage of the Tillamook Bay Bar, if you want to see a bird's eye view.

Barview Tide Tables links to the below available on my resource page

Saturday, July 14, 2018. Sun 5:40am-9:02pm. high tide 1:05am (8.93ft), low tide 8:20am (-1.91ft), high tide 2:44pm (6.92ft), low tide 8:16pm (1.98ft)

Sunday, July 15, 2018. Sun 5:41am-9:01pm. high tide 1:57am (8.65ft), low tide 9:07am (-1.68ft), high tide 3:31pm (7.08ft), low tide 9:13pm (1.86ft)

Tillamook Bay Bar Report:

REPORT TIMESTATUSRESTRICTIONS

7/15/2018 @ 544 PDT

Restricted

Recreational:22 / Uninspected Passenger Vessels:22

BETWEEN THE TIPS 2-4 FOOT EBB CHOPP, ALL OUTSIDE AREAS 4-6 FOOT STEEP CHOPP, WINDS ARE LIGHT FROM THE NORTH, VISIBILITY IS 0.5 NAUTICAL MILES, THE BAR IS CURRENTLY RESTRICTED TO ALL RECREATIONAL AND UNINSPECTED COMMERCIAL PASSENGER VESSELS LESS THAN OR EQUAL TO 22 FEET AT THE TOWER.

12NM N Cape Lookout OR

Marine Point Forecast

Synopsis: High pres over the ne Pac will move little through next week. Thermal low pres over nw California will strengthen today, with breezy northerly winds across the coastal waters today through much of this week.

Today

NNE wind 8 to 15 kt becoming NNW in the morning. Mostly sunny. NW swell 5 ft at 8 seconds. Wind waves 2 to 3 ft.

Tonight

NNW wind 10 to 19 kt. Patchy fog after 11pm. NW swell 5 ft at 8 seconds. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft.

Monday

NNW wind 8 to 12 kt. Patchy fog before 11am. NW swell 5 ft at 8 seconds. Wind waves 2 to 3 ft.

Monday Night

NNW wind 11 to 17 kt. Mostly cloudy. NW swell 5 ft. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft.

Tuesday

NW wind 5 to 7 kt. Partly sunny. NW swell 5 ft. Wind waves around 1 ft.

Tuesday Night

NNW wind around 10 kt. Partly cloudy. NW swell 5 ft. Wind waves around 2 ft.