Plain-English definitions for the terms used across TideDeck.
High water (HW)
The point at which the tide stops rising and begins to fall.
Low water (LW)
The point at which the tide stops falling and begins to rise.
Spring tide
A tide with a bigger range (higher highs, lower lows), occurring around new and full moon.
Neap tide
A tide with a smaller range, occurring around the first and last quarter moon.
Flood tide
The period when the tide is rising.
Ebb tide
The period when the tide is falling.
Slack water
The short period around high or low water when there is little to no tidal movement.
Tidal range
The difference in height between high and low water for a given tide.
Datum
The fixed reference level a station’s tide heights are measured against.
Ground
The type of seabed at a mark — rock, sand, mud or mixed — which strongly affects what tackle and species suit it.
Structure
Any feature on the seabed (rocks, gullies, wrecks, ledges) that fish use for shelter or feeding.
Rig
The arrangement of hooks, line and weight used to present bait.
Beachcaster
A long, powerful rod designed for casting weighted rigs a long distance from open beaches.
Trace
The length of line between the mainline and the hook, often stronger or more abrasion-resistant than the mainline.