Ballast Point tide chart
Florida · near Tampa (4 mi) · NOAA station 8726639 · times in local time (EDT)
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Tides today, Sunday, October 11
- High 2:38 AM 3.0 ft
- Low 9:25 AM 0.2 ft
- High 3:50 PM 2.5 ft
- Low 9:17 PM 1.4 ft
Were today's predicted times right where you were?
Sunrise 7:28 AM · Sunset 7:06 PM · New moon (0%)
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Fishing forecast
Hour by hour at Ballast PointBest times
1:00 PM–3:00 PM and 7:00 PM–8:00 PM
New moon (0% lit)
Rain radar
Biting around here in October
- Snook In seasonMoving tide at night around docks and passes (watch closed seasons)
- Redfish In seasonShallow flats on a rising tide
- Spotted seatrout In seasonGrass flats with moving water
- Spanish mackerel In seasonClean moving water near inlets and piers
- Pompano In seasonSurf troughs on the incoming tide
General seasonal guide for Florida. Seasons, sizes and limits vary, so check your state rules before keeping fish.
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Weather and conditions at Ballast Point
Loading the National Weather Service forecast… Open it on weather.gov.
Marine forecast: Tampa Bay waters
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- Water temperature —
- Nearest weather buoy Egmont Channel Entrance, FL (214) (35 mi): waves, wind and water temperature
Marine radio: weather channels and VHF
NOAA Weather Radio
- 162.550 MHz WX1 KHB32, Tampa Bay, FL (14 mi)
- 162.450 MHz WX5 KEC38, Largo, FL (18 mi)
To get alerts on a weather alert radio, program county code 012057 (Hillsborough).
VHF marine channels
- Ch 16 Distress, safety and calling
- Ch 9 Boater-to-boater calling
- Ch 22A Coast Guard safety broadcasts
- Ch 13 Bridge-to-bridge (big ships, drawbridges)
- Ch 68, 69, 71, 72, 78A Recreational chat
Weather radio broadcasts are continuous; VHF channels are the US standard. Local harbors and bridges may use others, so check your chart.
Live readings from NOAA and the National Weather Service, loaded when you open this page.
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Tide times this week
| Day | High and low tides | Sunrise / sunset | Moon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun Oct 11 | H 2:38 AM 3.0 ftL 9:25 AM 0.2 ftH 3:50 PM 2.5 ftL 9:17 PM 1.4 ft | 7:28 AM / 7:06 PM | New moon (0%) |
| Mon Oct 12 | H 3:01 AM 3.1 ftL 10:06 AM 0.1 ftH 4:37 PM 2.4 ftL 9:39 PM 1.5 ft | 7:29 AM / 7:05 PM | New moon (2%) |
| Tue Oct 13 | H 3:22 AM 3.1 ftL 10:49 AM 0.2 ftH 5:26 PM 2.2 ftL 9:50 PM 1.7 ft | 7:29 AM / 7:04 PM | Waxing crescent (6%) |
| Wed Oct 14 | H 3:42 AM 3.1 ftL 11:36 AM 0.3 ftH 6:16 PM 2.0 ftL 9:42 PM 1.7 ft | 7:30 AM / 7:03 PM | Waxing crescent (12%) |
| Thu Oct 15 | H 4:08 AM 3.0 ftL 12:27 PM 0.4 ftH 7:07 PM 1.9 ftL 9:40 PM 1.7 ft | 7:31 AM / 7:02 PM | Waxing crescent (19%) |
| Fri Oct 16 | H 4:44 AM 2.9 ftL 1:22 PM 0.6 ft | 7:31 AM / 7:01 PM | Waxing crescent (28%) |
| Sat Oct 17 | H 5:31 AM 2.8 ftL 2:29 PM 0.7 ft | 7:32 AM / 7:00 PM | First quarter (38%) |
Tidal currents near Ballast Point
From NOAA's current predictions for Cut C Channel, marker '21', Hillsborough Bay at 15 ft depth, 3.8 miles away. Slack is when the current turns and the water is calmest; flood runs in with the rising tide and ebb runs out with the falling tide. Times are the peak of each run, in knots. The flood runs toward the N (7°) and the ebb toward the S (183°). The strongest current this week is 0.5 knots.
| Day | Slack water and peak currents |
|---|---|
| Sun Oct 11 | Flood 1:25 AM 0.5 knSlack 3:35 AMEbb 7:21 AM 0.3 knSlack 9:55 AMFlood 2:33 PM 0.5 knSlack 5:02 PMEbb 7:31 PM 0.1 knSlack 9:10 PM |
| Mon Oct 12 | Flood 1:44 AM 0.4 knSlack 3:49 AMEbb 7:45 AM 0.3 knSlack 10:38 AMFlood 3:21 PM 0.5 knSlack 5:53 PMEbb 8:03 PM 0.1 knSlack 9:25 PM |
| Tue Oct 13 | Flood 2:06 AM 0.4 knSlack 4:03 AMEbb 7:58 AM 0.3 knSlack 11:23 AMFlood 4:09 PM 0.5 knSlack 6:49 PMSlack 9:38 PM |
| Wed Oct 14 | Flood 2:31 AM 0.4 knSlack 4:23 AMEbb 8:09 AM 0.3 knSlack 12:13 PMFlood 5:01 PM 0.4 knSlack 7:57 PMSlack 9:49 PM |
| Thu Oct 15 | Flood 3:02 AM 0.4 knSlack 4:50 AMEbb 8:31 AM 0.3 knSlack 1:09 PMFlood 6:06 PM 0.3 knSlack 9:23 PM |
| Fri Oct 16 | Flood 3:38 AM 0.4 knSlack 5:25 AMEbb 9:06 AM 0.3 knSlack 2:11 PMFlood 7:24 PM 0.3 knSlack 11:51 PM |
| Sat Oct 17 | Flood 4:22 AM 0.3 knSlack 6:09 AMEbb 9:53 AM 0.2 knSlack 3:16 PMFlood 8:30 PM 0.3 kn |
Current predictions can differ a lot over short distances: check the station location on NOAA before planning a passage.
Best fishing times at Ballast Point
The bite score (0 to 100) adds up what anglers watch most: moving water (a tide running harder than usual here scores higher), solunar periods (major periods of about two hours centred on the moon overhead or underfoot, minor periods of about an hour on moonrise and moonset), dawn and dusk light, and how close it is to the new or full moon. Best times are the stretches of the day scoring near that day's top.
| Day | Bite score | Best times | Major periods | Minor periods |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun Oct 11 | 88 · Excellent | 1:00 PM–3:00 PM, 7:00 PM–8:00 PM | 12:43 AM–2:43 AM, 1:05 PM–3:05 PM | 7:59 AM–8:59 AM, 7:06 PM–8:06 PM |
| Mon Oct 12 | 74 · Good | 2:00 PM–3:00 PM | 1:28 AM–3:28 AM, 1:52 PM–3:52 PM | 8:57 AM–9:57 AM, 7:42 PM–8:42 PM |
| Tue Oct 13 | 61 · Good | 3:00 PM–4:00 PM | 2:16 AM–4:16 AM, 2:40 PM–4:40 PM | 9:55 AM–10:55 AM, 8:22 PM–9:22 PM |
| Wed Oct 14 | 51 · Fair | 4:00 PM–5:00 PM, 7:00 AM–8:00 AM | 3:05 AM–5:05 AM, 3:30 PM–5:30 PM | 10:52 AM–11:52 AM, 9:06 PM–10:06 PM |
| Thu Oct 15 | 39 · Fair | 5:00 PM–6:00 PM | 3:55 AM–5:55 AM, 4:21 PM–6:21 PM | 11:46 AM–12:46 PM, 9:55 PM–10:55 PM |
| Fri Oct 16 | 41 · Fair | 6:00 PM–7:00 PM | 4:46 AM–6:46 AM, 5:11 PM–7:11 PM | 12:36 PM–1:36 PM, 10:48 PM–11:48 PM |
| Sat Oct 17 | 45 · Fair | 6:00 PM–8:00 PM, 6:00 AM–8:00 AM | 5:36 AM–7:36 AM, 6:01 PM–8:01 PM | 1:21 PM–2:21 PM |
A planning aid, not a guarantee. Wind, water clarity, bait and pressure changes matter too; the forecast above adds live wind and pressure when you open the page.
Best daylight low tides in the next two weeks
The lowest water that falls between sunrise and sunset, for tide pooling and beachcombing.
- 0.1 ft at 10:06 AM on Monday, October 12
- 0.2 ft at 10:49 AM on Tuesday, October 13
- 0.2 ft at 9:25 AM on Sunday, October 11
- 0.3 ft at 11:36 AM on Wednesday, October 14
- 0.4 ft at 12:27 PM on Thursday, October 15
- 0.4 ft at 7:48 AM on Saturday, October 24
Tide table: October 11 to November 10, 2026
Full 2026 tide table Full 2027 tide table
| Day | High and low tides | Sunrise / sunset |
|---|---|---|
| Sun Oct 11 | H 2:38 AM 3.0 ftL 9:25 AM 0.2 ftH 3:50 PM 2.5 ftL 9:17 PM 1.4 ft | 7:28 AM / 7:06 PM |
| Mon Oct 12 | H 3:01 AM 3.1 ftL 10:06 AM 0.1 ftH 4:37 PM 2.4 ftL 9:39 PM 1.5 ft | 7:29 AM / 7:05 PM |
| Tue Oct 13 | H 3:22 AM 3.1 ftL 10:49 AM 0.2 ftH 5:26 PM 2.2 ftL 9:50 PM 1.7 ft | 7:29 AM / 7:04 PM |
| Wed Oct 14 | H 3:42 AM 3.1 ftL 11:36 AM 0.3 ftH 6:16 PM 2.0 ftL 9:42 PM 1.7 ft | 7:30 AM / 7:03 PM |
| Thu Oct 15 | H 4:08 AM 3.0 ftL 12:27 PM 0.4 ftH 7:07 PM 1.9 ftL 9:40 PM 1.7 ft | 7:31 AM / 7:02 PM |
| Fri Oct 16 | H 4:44 AM 2.9 ftL 1:22 PM 0.6 ft | 7:31 AM / 7:01 PM |
| Sat Oct 17 | H 5:31 AM 2.8 ftL 2:29 PM 0.7 ft | 7:32 AM / 7:00 PM |
| Sun Oct 18 | H 6:27 AM 2.7 ftL 3:40 PM 0.7 ft | 7:32 AM / 6:59 PM |
| Mon Oct 19 | H 7:43 AM 2.6 ftL 4:38 PM 0.7 ftH 11:57 PM 1.9 ft | 7:33 AM / 6:58 PM |
| Tue Oct 20 | L 4:15 AM 1.8 ftH 10:07 AM 2.5 ftL 5:25 PM 0.7 ft | 7:34 AM / 6:57 PM |
| Wed Oct 21 | H 12:02 AM 2.0 ftL 5:16 AM 1.5 ftH 11:14 AM 2.6 ftL 6:07 PM 0.8 ft | 7:34 AM / 6:56 PM |
| Thu Oct 22 | H 12:23 AM 2.2 ftL 6:10 AM 1.2 ftH 12:14 PM 2.6 ftL 6:47 PM 0.8 ft | 7:35 AM / 6:55 PM |
| Fri Oct 23 | H 12:47 AM 2.4 ftL 7:01 AM 0.8 ftH 1:13 PM 2.6 ftL 7:24 PM 1.0 ft | 7:35 AM / 6:54 PM |
| Sat Oct 24 | H 1:12 AM 2.6 ftL 7:48 AM 0.4 ftH 2:07 PM 2.6 ftL 7:57 PM 1.1 ft | 7:36 AM / 6:53 PM |
| Sun Oct 25 | H 1:37 AM 2.9 ftL 8:31 AM 0.1 ftH 2:57 PM 2.5 ftL 8:25 PM 1.3 ft | 7:37 AM / 6:52 PM |
| Mon Oct 26 | H 2:02 AM 3.1 ftL 9:14 AM -0.2 ftH 3:47 PM 2.4 ftL 8:48 PM 1.5 ft | 7:37 AM / 6:51 PM |
| Tue Oct 27 | H 2:29 AM 3.3 ftL 10:00 AM -0.4 ftH 4:43 PM 2.2 ftL 9:04 PM 1.6 ft | 7:38 AM / 6:51 PM |
| Wed Oct 28 | H 3:00 AM 3.4 ftL 10:53 AM -0.4 ftH 5:45 PM 2.1 ftL 9:14 PM 1.7 ft | 7:39 AM / 6:50 PM |
| Thu Oct 29 | H 3:37 AM 3.5 ftL 11:51 AM -0.3 ftH 6:46 PM 1.9 ftL 9:22 PM 1.7 ft | 7:39 AM / 6:49 PM |
| Fri Oct 30 | H 4:23 AM 3.4 ftL 12:52 PM -0.2 ft | 7:40 AM / 6:48 PM |
| Sat Oct 31 | H 5:22 AM 3.2 ftL 1:56 PM 0.0 ft | 7:41 AM / 6:47 PM |
| Sun Nov 1 | H 5:33 AM 3.0 ftL 2:04 PM 0.2 ftH 10:40 PM 1.8 ft | 6:42 AM / 5:47 PM |
| Mon Nov 2 | L 1:01 AM 1.8 ftH 7:08 AM 2.7 ftL 3:06 PM 0.4 ftH 10:13 PM 1.9 ft | 6:42 AM / 5:46 PM |
| Tue Nov 3 | L 2:59 AM 1.5 ftH 8:57 AM 2.5 ftL 3:57 PM 0.6 ftH 10:33 PM 2.1 ft | 6:43 AM / 5:45 PM |
| Wed Nov 4 | L 4:09 AM 1.2 ftH 10:15 AM 2.4 ftL 4:41 PM 0.8 ftH 11:00 PM 2.3 ft | 6:44 AM / 5:45 PM |
| Thu Nov 5 | L 5:09 AM 0.8 ftH 11:24 AM 2.3 ftL 5:22 PM 0.9 ftH 11:28 PM 2.6 ft | 6:44 AM / 5:44 PM |
| Fri Nov 6 | L 6:04 AM 0.4 ftH 12:29 PM 2.3 ftL 6:01 PM 1.1 ftH 11:58 PM 2.8 ft | 6:45 AM / 5:43 PM |
| Sat Nov 7 | L 6:51 AM 0.1 ftH 1:21 PM 2.2 ftL 6:38 PM 1.3 ft | 6:46 AM / 5:43 PM |
| Sun Nov 8 | H 12:28 AM 2.9 ftL 7:32 AM -0.1 ftH 2:06 PM 2.2 ftL 7:11 PM 1.4 ft | 6:47 AM / 5:42 PM |
| Mon Nov 9 | H 12:57 AM 3.0 ftL 8:11 AM -0.2 ftH 2:47 PM 2.1 ftL 7:40 PM 1.5 ft | 6:47 AM / 5:41 PM |
| Tue Nov 10 | H 1:24 AM 3.0 ftL 8:50 AM -0.2 ftH 3:30 PM 2.0 ftL 8:01 PM 1.5 ft | 6:48 AM / 5:41 PM |
Heights are in feet above mean lower low water (MLLW), the zero line on most US nautical charts. A minus height means the water drops below that line.
Around Ballast Point
Beaches
- Picnic Island Beach 5.2 mi
Marinas
- Davis Islands Yacht Club 2.2 mi
- Marjorie Park Marina 3.2 mi
- Pointe Marina 3.7 mi
Fishing piers and docks
- Pat's Hole 4.0 mi
- Water Works Park Boat Dock 4.9 mi
Distances from the tide station. Places from © OpenStreetMap contributors; links open in Google Maps.
Fish in the waters around Ballast Point
37 kinds of fish, sharks and rays have been recorded within 15 km (about 9 miles) of this spot, most often Sailfin Molly, Tarpon, Rainwater Killifish. The bar shows how many records each has.
- Sailfin Molly Poecilia latipinnaSalt water · 23 records
- Tarpon Megalops atlanticusSalt water · 19 records
- Rainwater Killifish Lucania parvaSalt water · 18 records
- Inland Silverside Menidia beryllinaSalt water · 18 records
- Sheepshead Minnow Cyprinodon variegatusSalt water · 18 records
- Longnose Killifish Fundulus similisSalt water · 17 records
- Flathead Grey Mullet Mugil cephalusSalt water · 17 records
- Blackchin Tilapia Sarotherodon melanotheronSalt water · 15 records
- Red Grouper Epinephelus morioSalt water · 14 records
- Gulf Killifish Fundulus grandisBrackish water · 13 records
- Sheepshead Archosargus probatocephalusSalt water · 12 records
- Diamond Killifish Fundulus xenicusSalt water · 12 records
- Marsh Killifish Fundulus confluentusSalt water · 12 records
- Pinfish Lagodon rhomboidesSalt water · 11 records
- Common Snook Centropomus undecimalisSalt water · 9 records
- Eastern Mosquitofish Gambusia holbrookiBrackish water · 8 records
- Blue Tilapia Oreochromis aureusBrackish water · 8 records
- Speckled Worm Eel Myrophis punctatusSalt water · 8 records
- Western Mosquitofish Gambusia affinisBrackish water · 7 records
- Red Drum Sciaenops ocellatusSalt water · 7 records
- Dwarf Seahorse Hippocampus zosteraeSalt water · 7 records
- Goldspotted Killifish Floridichthys carpioSalt water · 6 records
- African Jewelfish Hemichromis letourneuxiBrackish water · 6 records
- White Mullet Mugil curemaSalt water · 6 records
- Hogchoker Trinectes maculatusSalt water · 6 records
- Blackcheek Tonguefish Symphurus plagiusaSalt water · 6 records
- Mayan Cichlid Mayaheros urophthalmusBrackish water · 6 records
- Clown Goby Microgobius gulosusSalt water · 5 records
- Walking Catfish Clarias batrachusBrackish water · 5 records
- Hardhead Catfish Ariopsis felisSalt water · 5 records
- Florida Blenny Chasmodes saburraeSalt water · 5 records
- Least Killifish Heterandria formosaBrackish water · 4 records
- Irish Mojarra Diapterus auratusSalt water · 4 records
- Sharksucker Echeneis naucratesSalt water · 4 records
- Crested Goby Lophogobius cyprinoidesSalt water · 4 records
- Pigfish Orthopristis chrysopteraSalt water · 4 records
- Crevalle Jack Caranx hipposSalt water · 4 records
Fresh water nearby · 3 species
Rivers, creeks and ponds within 15 km, not the tidal water itself.
- Warmouth Lepomis gulosusFresh water · 6 records
- Black Crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatusFresh water · 4 records
- Pirate Perch Aphredoderus sayanusFresh water · 4 records
Records from GBIF datasets released under CC0 or CC BY 4.0 (museum collections, surveys and community sightings). It shows what has been found here, not a complete list. Check your state rules before keeping fish.
About the tides at Ballast Point
Ballast Point gets two high tides and two low tides most days, but one high is clearly higher than the other (and one low clearly lower), which is called a mixed tide. Over the next month the water typically rises or falls about 1.8 ft between a high and the next low.
The biggest swings in this window come around Wednesday, October 28, when the day's range reaches 3.8 ft, and again around Tuesday, November 10 (3.2 ft). Here the biggest ranges depend on the moon's phase and on how far north or south of the equator it is, so they don't always line up with the new and full moon. The calmest day is Wednesday, November 4, with only 1.6 ft between the day's highest and lowest water.
The lowest tide of the month is -0.4 ft at 10:53 AM on Wednesday, October 28. There are 8 minus tides (lows below the chart's zero line) in this window: the best times for tide pools, clamming and walking the flats.
The highest predicted tide is 3.5 ft at 3:37 AM on Thursday, October 29. Onshore wind or a storm can push the real water level above that.
This is a reference (harmonic) station: NOAA predicts its tides directly from years of measured water levels here, which makes it among the most reliable predictions on the coast.
Station details
- NOAA station ID: 8726639
- Type: reference (harmonic)
- Location: 27.8900, -82.4800