Fishing with Albany Island: Choosing the Right Tides for an Exceptional Experience

Welcome to the FishingEarth page for Albany Island tides information page. Where we believe in crafting the best fishing adventures around optimal conditions. There are many factors in fishing we can’t control—weather and fish behaviour being two of the biggest. However, one thing we can manage is choosing the best tides to give you the highest chance of a memorable fishing trip.

Understanding Spring and Neap Tides

In fishing, timing is everything. Spring tides occur around the full and new moons, bringing dramatic tidal movements that can stir up waters, reduce visibility, and scatter baitfish. Neap tides, on the other hand, occur during the quarter moons and produce more moderate water movement. They create clearer conditions that allow fish to stay closer to shore and accessible reefs.

At Albany Island, both spring and quarter moon tides can offer fantastic fishing, but the experience changes with each type:

Spring Tides (New Moon and Full Moon): These tides bring faster currents and larger tidal shifts, often resulting in murkier water. The stronger currents mean that baitfish and predatory fish like Spanish mackerel, tuna, and giant trevally scatter, making it harder to catch them without covering large distances.

Neap Tides (First and Last Quarter Moons): With gentler currents, water remains clearer, baitfish stay concentrated, and predatory fish are easier to find. These tides offer a balance between active fishing and accessible, manageable water conditions.

Why Quarter Moon Tides are Often the Best Choice

Fishing around the quarter moons, when tides are more moderate, allows for steady fish activity in clearer waters. These tides ensure that both the baitfish and predator fish stay in tighter schools, creating conditions where you’re more likely to land your target species without exhausting yourself or your gear.

An example of this was the third quarter moon on 28 July, when strong winds continued, but as waters cleared up, fish were back on the bite, allowing clients to land impressive catches close to the lodge.

Challenges of Fishing on Spring Tides

Although spring tides can bring thrilling moments with bigger, faster-moving fish, they also introduce challenges. For example, over the full moon tides around 20 August 2024, strong winds sustained 20+ knots, with gusts over 30 knots. These conditions made it impossible to reach prime fishing waters safely, especially as fishable spots were further out. Even with prime fishing grounds nearby, clients struggled to find fish, with only two catches in an entire day.

Spring tides can present incredible opportunities, but when paired with less-than-ideal weather, the fishing experience often suffers. Here are the main challenges:

Reduced Visibility: Turbulent waters stirred by strong tidal currents lead to cloudy conditions, making it harder for fish to see lures.

Dispersed Baitfish: Baitfish scatter in rough waters, meaning predator fish are less concentrated, which reduces catch opportunities.

Strong Tidal Currents: These require heavier tackle, which increases physical demand and can wear down gear.

Smaller Fishing Windows: Limited times when the tides are manageable mean fewer active fishing periods.

Harder Physical Effort: The heavier currents require extra stamina, potentially tiring anglers out sooner.

Spring Tides with Perfect Weather: The Exception, Not the Rule

When conditions are perfect, spring tides can lead to phenomenal fishing days. During the new moon on 27 November 2023, the doldrums kicked in early, creating calm conditions that allowed us to explore distant reef systems. We encountered large schools of GTs (giant trevally), with the intensity and sheer size of these fish making for an incredible day. However, perfect spring tide conditions are rare and not something we can depend on.

Your Ideal Albany Island Adventure

At Albany Island, we focus on providing you with the best chance for a successful trip. Here’s what you can expect from our approach:

Personalised Tides Selection: We’ll help you schedule your trip around quarter moon tides for optimal fishing conditions whenever possible.

Flexibility: If your dates fall during a new or full moon, we’ll work with you to identify the best possible days.

Safety First: Albany Island’s extensive network of sheltered fishing spots means we can avoid the worst effects of strong tides, ensuring you enjoy a safe and productive experience.

Thank you for considering Albany Island for your fishing adventure! Whatever your bucket list holds, our team is here to help you achieve it with the right timing, the best tides, and the utmost care for a safe, enjoyable, and truly memorable fishing experience