Another stupid question: Tides rising and falling

[DoubleJ]

if the tide book says low tide is 4' and high tide is 10', is the tidal change literally 6'?  Can I drop a crab pot in 80' of water when the tide is 4' and at high tide, expect that only 86' of rope will be under at high tide because the tide only went up 6'?  Seems to simple.

[HntnFsh]

That would put you close. But tides arent exact.  Where I crab its really calm. Hardly any current. I still dont like having less than 20' of extra rope.

[runamuk]

yeah current and slope underwater makes it not quite so simple.... better to have extra rope than be the guy finding your buoy submerged...thats never a good look

[jumpin]

Use lots of extra rope, leaded or use line weights

[RG]

But your analysis is basically correct. Look at all of the daily tides though. There is often a small tide change on one end of the day and a much larger one at the other end. And leave plenty of extra line anyway.

[JimmyHoffa]

When you go to your crabbing hole, look at any docks or seawalls in the area at low tide and see how high up the barnacles grow.