Shorebite

Cortez, Sarasota Bay tide chart

Florida · Cortez · NOAA station 8726217 · times in local time (EDT)

Tides today, Sunday, October 11

12 AM6 AM12 PM6 PM12:05 AM · 2.4 ft7:49 AM · 0.3 ft1:51 PM · 2.0 ft7:18 PM · 1.4 ft2.5 ft
  • High 12:05 AM 2.4 ft
  • Low 7:49 AM 0.3 ft
  • High 1:51 PM 2.0 ft
  • Low 7:18 PM 1.4 ft

Sunrise 7:29 AM · Sunset 7:07 PM · New moon (0%)

Fishing forecast

Hour by hour at Cortez, Sarasota Bay
78Excellent

Best times

1:00 AM–3:00 AM

New moon (0% lit)

    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.

    Weather and conditions at Cortez, Sarasota Bay

    Loading the National Weather Service forecast… Open it on weather.gov.

    Marine forecast: Tampa Bay waters

    Loading the latest National Weather Service forecast… Open it on weather.gov.

    Marine radio: weather channels and VHF

    NOAA Weather Radio

    • 162.450 MHz WX5 KEC38, Largo, FL (27 mi)
    • 162.400 MHz WX2 WWG59, Venice, FL (29 mi)

    To get alerts on a weather alert radio, program county code 012081 (Manatee).

    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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    Recent reports

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    Reports are from visitors and may be wrong. Inappropriate ones are removed.

    Tide times this week

    DayHigh and low tidesSunrise / sunsetMoon
    Sun Oct 11H 12:05 AM 2.4 ftL 7:49 AM 0.3 ftH 1:51 PM 2.0 ftL 7:18 PM 1.4 ft7:29 AM / 7:07 PMNew moon (0%)
    Mon Oct 12H 12:25 AM 2.5 ftL 8:29 AM 0.2 ftH 2:42 PM 1.9 ftL 7:33 PM 1.5 ft7:29 AM / 7:06 PMNew moon (2%)
    Tue Oct 13H 12:48 AM 2.6 ftL 9:09 AM 0.2 ftH 3:39 PM 1.7 ftL 7:44 PM 1.6 ft7:30 AM / 7:05 PMWaxing crescent (6%)
    Wed Oct 14H 1:15 AM 2.6 ftL 9:53 AM 0.2 ftH 4:47 PM 1.6 ftL 7:52 PM 1.6 ft7:31 AM / 7:04 PMWaxing crescent (12%)
    Thu Oct 15H 1:47 AM 2.6 ftL 10:42 AM 0.2 ft7:31 AM / 7:03 PMWaxing crescent (19%)
    Fri Oct 16H 2:23 AM 2.5 ftL 11:41 AM 0.3 ft7:32 AM / 7:02 PMWaxing crescent (28%)
    Sat Oct 17H 3:11 AM 2.3 ftL 12:49 PM 0.3 ft7:32 AM / 7:01 PMFirst quarter (38%)

    Tidal currents near Cortez, Sarasota Bay

    From NOAA's current predictions for Cortez, north of bridge, 0.5 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 NNW (346°) and the ebb toward the SSE (162°). The strongest current this week is 0.9 knots.

    DaySlack water and peak currents
    Sun Oct 11Slack 2:07 AMEbb 4:46 AM 0.2 knSlack 7:55 AMFlood 11:47 AM 0.9 knSlack 4:03 PMSlack 7:10 PMFlood 11:02 PM 0.7 kn
    Mon Oct 12Slack 2:27 AMEbb 5:15 AM 0.2 knSlack 8:32 AMFlood 12:27 PM 0.8 knSlack 4:58 PMSlack 7:23 PMFlood 11:24 PM 0.6 kn
    Tue Oct 13Slack 2:52 AMEbb 5:46 AM 0.2 knSlack 9:12 AMFlood 1:11 PM 0.7 knSlack 6:01 PMSlack 7:35 PMFlood 11:51 PM 0.6 kn
    Wed Oct 14Slack 3:23 AMEbb 6:21 AM 0.2 knSlack 9:57 AMFlood 2:03 PM 0.6 knSlack 7:25 PM
    Thu Oct 15Flood 12:25 AM 0.5 knSlack 3:59 AMEbb 7:01 AM 0.2 knSlack 10:51 AMFlood 3:06 PM 0.5 knSlack 8:16 PM
    Fri Oct 16Flood 1:06 AM 0.4 knSlack 4:42 AMEbb 7:46 AM 0.2 knSlack 11:58 AMFlood 4:18 PM 0.5 knFlood 9:29 PM 0.1 kn
    Sat Oct 17Flood 1:59 AM 0.4 knSlack 5:32 AMEbb 8:45 AM 0.1 knSlack 1:14 PMFlood 5:38 PM 0.5 knFlood 11:18 PM 0.1 kn

    Current predictions can differ a lot over short distances: check the station location on NOAA before planning a passage.

    Best fishing times at Cortez, Sarasota Bay

    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.

    DayBite scoreBest timesMajor periodsMinor periods
    Sun Oct 1178 · Excellent1:00 AM–3:00 AM12:44 AM–2:44 AM, 1:06 PM–3:06 PM7:59 AM–8:59 AM, 7:08 PM–8:08 PM
    Mon Oct 1270 · Good2:00 AM–3:00 AM1:29 AM–3:29 AM, 1:53 PM–3:53 PM8:57 AM–9:57 AM, 7:44 PM–8:44 PM
    Tue Oct 1364 · Good3:00 AM–4:00 AM2:17 AM–4:17 AM, 2:41 PM–4:41 PM9:55 AM–10:55 AM, 8:24 PM–9:24 PM
    Wed Oct 1459 · Good4:00 AM–5:00 AM3:06 AM–5:06 AM, 3:31 PM–5:31 PM10:51 AM–11:51 AM, 9:08 PM–10:08 PM
    Thu Oct 1557 · Good4:00 AM–6:00 AM, 5:00 PM–6:00 PM3:56 AM–5:56 AM, 4:21 PM–6:21 PM11:45 AM–12:45 PM, 9:57 PM–10:57 PM
    Fri Oct 1660 · Good6:00 PM–7:00 PM, 5:00 AM–7:00 AM4:47 AM–6:47 AM, 5:12 PM–7:12 PM12:36 PM–1:36 PM, 10:50 PM–11:50 PM
    Sat Oct 1761 · Good6:00 AM–8:00 AM, 7:00 PM–8:00 PM5:37 AM–7:37 AM, 6:02 PM–8:02 PM1:21 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.

    1. 0.2 ft at 9:09 AM on Tuesday, October 13
    2. 0.2 ft at 9:53 AM on Wednesday, October 14
    3. 0.2 ft at 8:29 AM on Monday, October 12
    4. 0.2 ft at 10:42 AM on Thursday, October 15
    5. 0.3 ft at 11:41 AM on Friday, October 16
    6. 0.3 ft at 7:49 AM on Sunday, October 11

    Tide table: October 11 to November 10, 2026

    Full 2026 tide table Full 2027 tide table

    DayHigh and low tidesSunrise / sunset
    Sun Oct 11H 12:05 AM 2.4 ftL 7:49 AM 0.3 ftH 1:51 PM 2.0 ftL 7:18 PM 1.4 ft7:29 AM / 7:07 PM
    Mon Oct 12H 12:25 AM 2.5 ftL 8:29 AM 0.2 ftH 2:42 PM 1.9 ftL 7:33 PM 1.5 ft7:29 AM / 7:06 PM
    Tue Oct 13H 12:48 AM 2.6 ftL 9:09 AM 0.2 ftH 3:39 PM 1.7 ftL 7:44 PM 1.6 ft7:30 AM / 7:05 PM
    Wed Oct 14H 1:15 AM 2.6 ftL 9:53 AM 0.2 ftH 4:47 PM 1.6 ftL 7:52 PM 1.6 ft7:31 AM / 7:04 PM
    Thu Oct 15H 1:47 AM 2.6 ftL 10:42 AM 0.2 ft7:31 AM / 7:03 PM
    Fri Oct 16H 2:23 AM 2.5 ftL 11:41 AM 0.3 ft7:32 AM / 7:02 PM
    Sat Oct 17H 3:11 AM 2.3 ftL 12:49 PM 0.3 ft7:32 AM / 7:01 PM
    Sun Oct 18H 4:21 AM 2.2 ftL 2:01 PM 0.4 ftH 10:30 PM 1.7 ft7:33 AM / 7:00 PM
    Mon Oct 19L 1:07 AM 1.7 ftH 6:01 AM 2.0 ftL 3:04 PM 0.4 ftH 10:15 PM 1.8 ft7:33 AM / 6:59 PM
    Tue Oct 20L 2:49 AM 1.5 ftH 7:42 AM 2.0 ftL 3:55 PM 0.5 ftH 10:25 PM 1.8 ft7:34 AM / 6:58 PM
    Wed Oct 21L 3:53 AM 1.3 ftH 9:06 AM 2.0 ftL 4:35 PM 0.6 ftH 10:36 PM 1.9 ft7:35 AM / 6:57 PM
    Thu Oct 22L 4:43 AM 1.0 ftH 10:11 AM 2.1 ftL 5:08 PM 0.7 ftH 10:46 PM 2.0 ft7:35 AM / 6:56 PM
    Fri Oct 23L 5:26 AM 0.7 ftH 11:06 AM 2.1 ftL 5:37 PM 0.9 ftH 10:57 PM 2.2 ft7:36 AM / 6:55 PM
    Sat Oct 24L 6:08 AM 0.4 ftH 11:58 AM 2.0 ftL 6:01 PM 1.1 ftH 11:12 PM 2.4 ft7:36 AM / 6:54 PM
    Sun Oct 25L 6:51 AM 0.2 ftH 12:52 PM 2.0 ftL 6:22 PM 1.3 ftH 11:33 PM 2.6 ft7:37 AM / 6:54 PM
    Mon Oct 26L 7:36 AM 0.0 ftH 1:52 PM 1.8 ftL 6:37 PM 1.5 ftH 11:58 PM 2.7 ft7:38 AM / 6:53 PM
    Tue Oct 27L 8:23 AM -0.2 ftH 3:05 PM 1.7 ftL 6:45 PM 1.6 ft7:38 AM / 6:52 PM
    Wed Oct 28H 12:30 AM 2.8 ftL 9:15 AM -0.2 ft7:39 AM / 6:51 PM
    Thu Oct 29H 1:08 AM 2.9 ftL 10:13 AM -0.2 ft7:40 AM / 6:50 PM
    Fri Oct 30H 1:56 AM 2.8 ftL 11:16 AM -0.2 ft7:40 AM / 6:50 PM
    Sat Oct 31H 2:55 AM 2.6 ftL 12:25 PM 0.0 ft7:41 AM / 6:49 PM
    Sun Nov 1H 3:13 AM 2.4 ftL 12:36 PM 0.1 ftH 9:09 PM 1.6 ftL 11:29 PM 1.6 ft6:42 AM / 5:48 PM
    Mon Nov 2H 4:51 AM 2.1 ftL 1:39 PM 0.2 ftH 8:44 PM 1.7 ft6:43 AM / 5:47 PM
    Tue Nov 3L 1:33 AM 1.4 ftH 6:43 AM 2.0 ftL 2:31 PM 0.4 ftH 8:55 PM 1.8 ft6:43 AM / 5:47 PM
    Wed Nov 4L 2:55 AM 1.0 ftH 8:22 AM 1.9 ftL 3:13 PM 0.6 ftH 9:09 PM 1.9 ft6:44 AM / 5:46 PM
    Thu Nov 5L 3:54 AM 0.7 ftH 9:37 AM 1.9 ftL 3:47 PM 0.8 ftH 9:24 PM 2.1 ft6:45 AM / 5:45 PM
    Fri Nov 6L 4:43 AM 0.4 ftH 10:38 AM 1.8 ftL 4:15 PM 1.1 ftH 9:39 PM 2.3 ft6:45 AM / 5:45 PM
    Sat Nov 7L 5:25 AM 0.2 ftH 11:34 AM 1.8 ftL 4:39 PM 1.2 ftH 9:56 PM 2.4 ft6:46 AM / 5:44 PM
    Sun Nov 8L 6:04 AM 0.0 ftH 12:27 PM 1.7 ftL 4:58 PM 1.4 ftH 10:17 PM 2.5 ft6:47 AM / 5:44 PM
    Mon Nov 9L 6:41 AM -0.1 ftH 1:22 PM 1.6 ftL 5:12 PM 1.5 ftH 10:41 PM 2.6 ft6:48 AM / 5:43 PM
    Tue Nov 10L 7:18 AM -0.1 ftH 2:21 PM 1.6 ftL 5:19 PM 1.5 ftH 11:08 PM 2.6 ft6:48 AM / 5:42 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 Cortez, Sarasota Bay

    Beaches

    Boat ramps

    Marinas

    Fishing piers and docks

    Distances from the tide station. Places from © OpenStreetMap contributors; links open in Google Maps.

    Fish in the waters around Cortez, Sarasota Bay

    39 kinds of fish, sharks and rays have been recorded within 15 km (about 9 miles) of this spot, most often Cobia, Blacktip Shark, Lane Snapper. The bar shows how many records each has.

    • Cobia Rachycentron canadumSalt water · 331 records
    • Blacktip Shark Carcharhinus limbatusSalt water · 13 records
    • Lane Snapper Lutjanus synagrisSalt water · 12 records
    • Pinfish Lagodon rhomboidesSalt water · 11 records
    • Tidewater Silverside Menidia peninsulaeSalt water · 10 records
    • Striped Burrfish Chilomycterus schoepfiiSalt water · 9 records
    • Gulf Pipefish Syngnathus scovelliSalt water · 7 records
    • Fringed Pipefish Anarchopterus crinigerSalt water · 7 records
    • Sheepshead Archosargus probatocephalusSalt water · 7 records
    • Planehead Filefish Stephanolepis hispidusSalt water · 7 records
    • Scrawled Cowfish Acanthostracion quadricornisSalt water · 6 records
    • Sheepshead Minnow Cyprinodon variegatusSalt water · 6 records
    • Hardhead Catfish Ariopsis felisSalt water · 6 records
    • Flathead Grey Mullet Mugil cephalusSalt water · 6 records
    • Grey Snapper Lutjanus griseusSalt water · 5 records
    • Emerald Parrotfish Nicholsina ustaSalt water · 5 records
    • Longnose Killifish Fundulus similisSalt water · 5 records
    • Goldspotted Killifish Floridichthys carpioSalt water · 4 records
    • Gulf Toadfish Opsanus betaSalt water · 4 records
    • Pigfish Orthopristis chrysopteraSalt water · 4 records
    • Zebratail Blenny Hypleurochilus caudovittatusSalt water · 4 records
    • Spotted Seatrout Cynoscion nebulosusSalt water · 4 records
    • Lined Sole Achirus lineatusSalt water · 4 records
    • Gafftopsail Catfish Bagre marinusSalt water · 4 records
    • Sailfin Molly Poecilia latipinnaSalt water · 4 records
    • Mummichog Fundulus heteroclitusSalt water · 4 records
    • Dusky Pipefish Syngnathus floridaeSalt water · 3 records
    • Eastern Mosquitofish Gambusia holbrookiBrackish water · 3 records
    • Jenny Mojarra Eucinostomus gulaSalt water · 3 records
    • King Mackerel Scomberomorus cavallaSalt water · 3 records
    • Gag Mycteroperca microlepisSalt water · 3 records
    • Butterfish Peprilus triacanthusSalt water · 3 records
    • Blackcheek Tonguefish Symphurus plagiusaSalt water · 3 records
    • Bonnethead Sphyrna tiburoSalt water · 3 records
    • Lined Seahorse Hippocampus erectusSalt water · 3 records
    • Inshore Lizardfish Synodus foetensSalt water · 3 records
    • Redfin Needlefish Strongylura notataSalt water · 3 records
    • Oyster Toadfish Opsanus tauSalt water · 2 records
    • Graceful Mojarra Eucinostomus gracilisSalt water · 2 records
    Fresh water nearby · 1 species

    Rivers, creeks and ponds within 15 km, not the tidal water itself.

    • Jack Dempsey Rocio octofasciataFresh water · 3 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 Cortez, Sarasota Bay

    Cortez, Sarasota Bay 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 1.4 ft between a high and the next low.

    The biggest swings in this window come around Thursday, October 29, when the day's range reaches 3.1 ft, and again around Tuesday, November 10 (2.7 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 1.3 ft between the day's highest and lowest water.

    The lowest tide of the month is -0.2 ft at 9:15 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 2.9 ft at 1:08 AM on Thursday, October 29. Onshore wind or a storm can push the real water level above that.

    This is a subordinate station: NOAA calculates its times and heights by adjusting a nearby reference station, so expect them to be a few minutes or a few tenths of a foot off on any given day.

    Station details

    Reference station: St. Petersburg.

    Nearby tide stations

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