| Bunce's Pass Tides & Best Times for 2010 (West Central Florida) |
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| Written by Richard Martin |
| Tuesday, 19 January 2010 00:00 |
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Page 5 of 6
June 2nd - June 8th
Gulfport Tide, June 2nd - June 8th, 2010
6/02
6/03
6/04
6/05
6/06
6/07
6/08
 June 2nd (Wednesday): Tonight is the last night of all-night shrimping before the low tide starts to arrive after sunset. Sunset tonight falls just after low tide has turned below average water levels and will return to average levels around 04:00. Don't expect any super-low tides at any point in the evening but do expect water levels to be below average and shrimpable.  June 3rd (Thursday): Low tide will fall below average water levels around 21:00 this evening marking tonight as the first of the late-night shrimping evenings. Low tide will fluctuate within 3/4 of a foot of the average water level of the course of six hours providing the opportunity, however little, to shrimp. Enjoy the tide if you can because we are quickly approaching bad tidal conditions once again.  June 4th (Friday): Tidal levels will still be above average at sunset, not falling beneath them until around 22:00. Tonight is nothing special. The low outgoing tide is shallow and won't provide any exceptional conditions. Tides will return to normal levels around 05:00. June 5th (Saturday): Low water levels will not appear until about 23:00 this evening providing little time for shrimpers to capitalize on the 03:00 window closure for catching most shrimp. The water level will be below average levels but not by much. This is the last night before tidal conditions become prohibitive.  June 6th (Sunday): Tonight is a waste of time. The difference between high tide and low tide this evening is less than a half foot and provides no benefit to any shrimper seeking to head out. Give your feet a rest and take the night off.  June 7th (Monday): Another poor evening to go shrimping. The difference between high and low tide is almost imperceptible this evening with the bulk of it above normal levels. Take time to enjoy some time on the water fishing or share photos of past trips on our shrimpers forum.  June 8th (Tuesday): This is another shore-shrimping evening folks. It marks the first day of the next good tidal cycle and provide very limited time to shrimp. Feel free to shrimp close to shore if you can find a spot or walk along the beach shoreline looking for shrimp washed along the surf. Be careful though, you only have about a two hour window after dusk in which to catch shrimp before the tide comes all the way in.
June 9th - June 15th
Gulfport Tide, June 9th - June 15th, 2010
6/09
6/10
6/11
6/12
6/13
6/14
6/15
 June 9th (Wednesday): The beginning of the oncoming good tides has hit and tonight will give shrimpers about three to four hours of good shrimping time. The New Moon arrives tomorrow but its effects should be felt now. Depending on whether or not the bulk have the shrimp have already moved through the area, tonight could be either really, really, good or void of shrimp. Check with the shrimper's forum to hear reports from fellow shrimpers in the area to decide if you should make the trip out tonight. You can always go on Friday if getting up in the morning is an obstacle.  June 10th (Thursday): Depending on how other shrimpers or yourself did last night, tonight may present a big opportunity to grab some shrimp! The New Moon is here and its impact will bring more shrimp to the surface, if they are still in the area. Still, it is also a Thursday and work beckons tomorrow. If you decide to go out, you will step onto the flats in sub-sea-level waters around sunset and have about five hours to shrimp the slowly incoming tide before it reaches normal water levels.  June 11th (Friday): There are only a few times a decade when a New Moon falls on a Friday during the height of shrimping season. We have been fortunate to have it happen twice this year. The first happened a month ago and tonight is the second. These two weekends are the leading candidates for the final shrimp run of the season. Most shrimping evenings outside of this annual run pale in comparison and those that come after it are usually sparse and scattered. Get out and check for yourself tonight. It is a Friday, warm outside and the water is calling. Tides will be below sea level at sunset and will not return to normal levels until around 01:30. Expect a crowd and have a good time.  June 12th (Saturday): The New Moon still hangs low in the sky tonight and the tides couldn't be more cooperative. Expect the water to be a half foot below sea level about a half an hour after sunset tonight and the majority of the evening to be below average water levels until around 02:30. Don't forget to give the birds their space on the flats too! They are looking for their shrimp dinner too.  June 13th (Sunday): The nice thing about this particular season is the number of Sunday nights that have perfect tides. It affords those of us who are a little claustrophobic some breathing room from all of the crowds on Friday and Saturday nights. Expect the tide to be nearly at the bottom of low tide at sunset when it will reach a half foot below sea level. The slow incoming tide will provide opportunity to let the tide follow you in after taking a leisurely walk out with the water. You should be able to enjoy a full evening until 03:00 shrimping.  June 14th (Monday): The first four hours of this evening will provide sub-sea-level shrimping for anyone who can make it. The tide will already be below sea level at sunset and will continue out an additional half foot until 22:30 when it will return to average water levels around 03:30. Tonight is a great night to be on the water provided the water and shrimp are cooperating.  June 15th (Tuesday): The New Moon has left but we still have opportune conditions for shrimping this evening. Expect a three hour windows of below sea-level tides between 21:00 and 12:30 with tides remaining below average until about 04:00. Tonight is another workweek miracle that will provide anyone a great chance as long as the shrimp remain in the area.
June 16th - June 22nd
Gulfport Tide, June 16th - June 22nd, 2010
6/16
6/17
6/18
6/19
6/20
6/21
6/22
 June 16th (Wednesday): This is the last evening of opportune conditions for this tidal cycle until we enter the late-evening tides. All water levels will be below average for the evening with an hour window beneath sea-level between 23:30 and 00:30. If you have the time, go!  June 17th (Thursday): Low tide will pass the average water level mark about a half an hour after sunset. It will not drop below sea level the entire evening and will return to average around 04:00. Tall people can easily find tonight to be no different than any other night but people used to extremely low tides will find less to enjoy than in previous evenings. If you can make it, go but don't worry if you cannot. Most people will stay home.  June 18th (Friday): Like last night, water levels are increasing and will fluctuate within a half foot of average all evening. If you are bored, you might be able to shrimp between 22:00 and 03:00 with success provided you are willing to get wet. It is a Friday so many may give it a shot but deciding whether or not to go should be based on whether or not the shrimp are still in town.  June 19th (Saturday): Tonight isn't worth heading out. Water levels will be above average around sunset and will dip no lower than a half foot below average all evening. This is just another bad tidal period, the last of the season but this also means that next week is most likely the last good tidal period of the year as well. June 20th (Sunday): Water levels tonight will not cooperate. There is barely a difference between high and low tide this evening, both hovering around the average water level. Stay at home and check the forum to see if the shrimp are still in town or have left already.  June 21st (Monday): Once again, don't expect much from this evening. The tides will remain above average nearly all night long and will provide absolutely no time to shrimp. Get ready for the upcoming weekend, it will probably be the last of the season.  June 22nd (Tuesday): You may find some time immediately at sunset to do some shoreline-shrimping with the kids (or yourself if you are hungry.) Most of the evening will be above average water levels but there will be a two hour window you can exploit immediately at sunset.
June 23rd - June 29th
Gulfport Tide, June 23rd - June 29th, 2010
6/23
6/24
6/25
6/26
6/27
6/28
6/29
 June 23rd (Wednesday): Four hours is all you will be able to pull out of this evening if you get out onto the flats just before sunset. The incoming tide will reach average levels around midnight tonight. Still, four hours is a lot of time to shrimp. If they are still here and you have the time, go!  June 24th (Thursday): You should get between five and six hours of shrimping in tonight depending on whether or not you arrive at dusk. The water will be below sea-level at sunset and below average until about 01:30. Grab the trap and bucket and head out!  June 25th (Friday): If you arrive at dusk you will find that the grass is poking over the top of the water because it will be about a quarter foot below sea-level. The Full Moon is approaching and the strong pull of the moon will give you about six to seven hours of shrimping before the water level returns to average at 02:00. Get out on the flats early and work your way from deep to shallow as the evening progresses.  June 26th (Saturday): Another evening of below sea-level water at dusk is to be found tonight. The Full Moon marks a strong tidal weekend and the low tides will be below sea level for about three hours. Feel free to stay out until about 02:30 when the tide comes back in.  June 27th (Sunday): Another perfect Sunday. Expect a two hour below sea-level period between 20:00 and 22:00 as well as a nice evening of below average water levels. If you have the time, it may be worth your while to take a trip to the beach.  June 28th (Monday): The final weeks of June are historically the last remnants of the shrimp run. Shrimp are still present but they are harder to find and hit and miss. Some nights they are there, other nights they are not and in almost all cases, their sizes are not uniform and their concentration is less. Still, we have had many nights where we have had luck. If you feel like giving it a shot, tonight is a night when the conditions will not be against you. Feel free to grab a trap and give it a shot. Expect a small below sea-level window around 22:00 and enjoy low tidal levels up to 02:30.  June 29th (Tuesday): The tide will not drop below sea-level all evening but it will remain below average until about 02:30. If you have the time, grab a trap and your gear and head out. There are few days left in the season so enjoy them while you can.
June 30th - July 6th
Gulfport Tide, June 30th - July 6th, 2010
6/30
7/01
7/02
7/03
7/04
7/05
7/06
 June 30th (Wednesday):We are quickly approaching the end of the optimum tidal conditions period of this cycle. Tonight will be one of the last where the tide will remain below average levels for the majority of the evening starting at dusk.  July 1st (Thursday): While the tide will be low for the bulk of the evening, the depth of that low is not deep. Anything below average is good enough to try shrimping in as far as we are concerning but people used to shrimping in really shallow conditions or those with kids will want to think twice.  July 2nd (Friday): Like last night, the water depth is going to be the biggest concern of the evening as the trough of low tide continues to get deeper and deeper. The lowest point of low tide will be only 6 inches below average. If you are a seasoned pro or comfortable in these depths, feel free to head out.  July 3rd (Saturday): Tonight is simply not worth going out The lowest point of low tide will be less than six inches below normal. If you have a boat and can access extremely low lying areas or get out of deep spots, feel free to head out. All others, be advised that water levels may be prohibitive. July 4th (Sunday): Fourth of July Sunday is unfortunately going to be a time better suited to hot dogs, fireworks and family than shrimping. The water levels will be hovering around normal and will provide no real benefit to any shrimpers. It is probably best to stay off the water this evening to as boaters may have a tendency to drive a little more recklessly.  July 5th (Monday): Tonight is a flat evening and a wash. The tide will remain above average for the evening and will offer no opportunities to go shrimping.  July 6th (Tuesday): That's all folks! Tonight is historically the last night of the season and like recent days, it too is not possible to shrimp. The good news is that the shrimp have already come and gone by this point in time and a new cycle is beginning in the Gulf of Mexico. Count yourself lucky to have experience something truly unique to the Central West Region and the world.
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| Last Updated on Monday, 22 February 2010 15:35 |
