If your tide forecast seems off or doesn’t match official sources, don’t worry—it’s usually due to one of the following reasons: incorrect forecast location, differences between nearby tide stations, or using a different tidal datum format. Let’s break it down:
Incorrect forecast location
Your tide forecast depends entirely on the location you've set. You can check or change this by tapping the location marker icon in the top-right corner of the tide forecast (also works in all other forecast screens). This opens the map view, where you can set your forecast location accurately by:
- Tapping on the map
- Using the search bar
- Dragging the marker
- Clicking “Find my current location” via GPS to select a new location
Sometimes users forget to update this, which may lead to incorrect tide data being shown. Always make sure your forecast location matches where you're actually fishing.
Multiple tide stations nearby
If there are several tide stations near your selected forecast location, the tide data can vary between them—even if they’re close together. This is especially true in complex coastal areas with unique tide patterns.
To get the most accurate forecast, choose the tide station that’s most relevant to your exact fishing spot. Follow these steps to select a tide station:
- Open Tides in your menu
- Tap the location marker symbol in the top-right corner
- The app will display tide stations in your vicinity (if available)
- Tap on your preferred station to select it
The tide data will update to reflect information from your chosen tide station
Tidal datum format
A tidal datum is the baseline used to measure tide heights. If you’re comparing our data with another source, it’s crucial that both use the same tidal datum, or the numbers may look very different.
Fishing Points lets you choose between several common tidal datums:
- Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW)
- Mean Sea Level (MSL)
- Lowest Astronomical Tide (LAT)
How to change tidal datum in the app:
Open Settings in your Menu > Measurement units > Tidal datum, and select your preferred format.