Ft. Desoto tide swing?

SaltySardine

Hey - I am going to be camping on Shell Key in the weekends to come and was wondering what the tide swing is? I moved from Jacksonville that had 6 foot tides and also lived on banana river on the space coast which had no noticeable tides.

I assume based off with what I looked at today (+/- 1.5 foot difference) that they are not all that noticeable?

Tarponator

That all depends on what you consider noticeable, but I wouldn't camp between the low and high tide lines.

relicshunter

I am hitting Ft. Desoto tomorrow , first time there. It looks like it has a slow fill type of tide, based on the numbers but we will see. I'll try to come back with some in put after the trip.

SaltySardine

Ended up camping Sat night. Got there at dead high tide and anchored with the bow of the boat in shin deep water. Stern was still in a few feet (anchored in Bunces pass). Dead low tide came around and the bow of the boat was JUST on dry sand but barely. Stern was still in 2.5 feet of water. Saw a flats boat come in and pull up onto the sand at high tide with no stern anchor to keep it straight, in the morning low, they were high and dry because the boat swung sideways with the current. I'd say the water retreated from the beach a total of 4 feet from the high/low tide. This was also a 1.54 positive high and a .15 positive low.

For reference for anyone going out there.

Slo Poke1

Check the tide charts. Most tides will be less than a 2.5’ swing but there will be some over 3’.