Inlets & Jetties tide fishing guide.
Coastal inlets where bays and sounds connect to the open ocean — most are stabilized with rock jetties.
How tide moves through inlets & jetties
Inlets have the strongest tidal currents on the inshore side of any coastline. Outgoing tide flushes baitfish from bays to ocean — predators stage on the seaward side to ambush. Incoming tide pushes ocean baitfish into the bay — predators stage on the bayside. Slack tides fish poorly at most inlets except sheepshead and resident species.
Species activity at inlets & jetties
How each species responds to the four tide stages in this water type. Tap a species for the full tide guide.
| Species | Incoming | High Slack | Outgoing | Low Slack |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Striped Bass | good | poor | peak | fair |
| Spanish Mackerel | good | fair | peak | fair |
| Bluefish | good | poor | peak | poor |
| Sheepshead | peak | good | good | fair |
| Southern Flounder | good | fair | peak | poor |
| King Mackerel | fair | fair | peak | fair |
| Cobia | fair | fair | good | fair |
| Tarpon | good | fair | peak | fair |
Stage-by-stage breakdown
Incoming Tide
High Slack
Outgoing TideOften the most productive
Low Slack
No species are most active at this stage in this water type. Other species may continue feeding but the stage doesn't concentrate fish.
Regions where inlets & jetties are significant
- NortheastMaine & New Hampshire Inlets8–12 ft tidal range
- NortheastMassachusetts & Cape Cod Estuaries8–11 ft tidal range
- NortheastRhode Island & Connecticut Sound Inlets3–5 ft tidal range
- NortheastLong Island Sound & New York Inlets4–8 ft tidal range
- Mid-AtlanticNew Jersey Inlets & Barnegat Bay4–6 ft tidal range
- Mid-AtlanticDelaware Bay & Tidal Delaware River5–7 ft tidal range
- Mid-AtlanticChesapeake Bay Lower & Hampton Roads2–3 ft tidal range
- Mid-AtlanticOuter Banks Inlets & Pamlico Sound2–4 ft tidal range
- Mid-AtlanticNorth Carolina Southern Inlets & Cape Fear4–6 ft tidal range
- South AtlanticSouth Carolina Grand Strand & Winyah Bay4–6 ft tidal range
- South AtlanticSouth Carolina Lowcountry & Port Royal Sound6–8 ft tidal range
- South AtlanticNortheast Florida & St. Johns River Tidal4–5 ft tidal range
- South AtlanticSoutheast Florida Inlets2–3 ft tidal range
- Gulf CoastFlorida Panhandle Bays1–2 ft tidal range
- Gulf CoastFlorida Nature Coast & Big Bend2–4 ft tidal range
- Gulf CoastTampa Bay & Charlotte Harbor2–3 ft tidal range
- Gulf CoastSouthwest Florida & Ten Thousand Islands2–3 ft tidal range
Named locations
- Cape Cod Canal
- Manasquan Inlet
- Oregon Inlet
- Sebastian Inlet
- Boca Grande Pass
Live tide alerts for your home water.
Bield: Fish ties NOAA tide tables to your saved inlets & jetties spots — and alerts you when the optimal window is about to start.