The La Rocque main gutter extends south east from the end of the pier. The reefs forming the sides of the gutter do not become obvious until around half tide.To the west of the main gutter a shallow area extends right across to Green Island for around mile out to sea before dropping away to deeper water. This area becomes a network of japweed filled gulleys toward low tide.

A broken line of reefs straight out from la Rocque gutter appear at low tide forming a large sheltered lagoon. Beyond the reefs is deeper water with submerged kelp reefs. South of Icho Tower the large exposed reefs drop straight into deeper water with a few scattered kelp reefs beyond. After Green Island Gutter, most reefs drop straight into deeper water leaving few shallow gutters at low.

To the north east of La Rocque gutter, a raised plateau of reefs and sandbanks extends out to Seymour Tower. On the drop, a few deeper japweed gulleys drain the water from this area into the lagoon. The plateau quickly dries out after half tide, eventually leaving 1½ miles of beach uncovered. To the north of Seymour Tower is Grouville Bay where the reefs break up into a gently sloping sandy beach. Occasional reefs and oyster beds higher up the beach will dry out as the tide pulls out over half a mile at low. Very few reefs are to be found beyond the low water mark.

Japweed beds start at the end of the main gutter and continue west through the lagoon to White Rock. The gulleys inside of Icho tower also have thick weed beds but much of this becomes very shallow at low. At the start of the competition most beds will be pushed over by the tide and will not visible on the surface. As the tide slackens off toward low, the beds will stand up, with most touching the surface.

On the dropping tide fish slowly drop back down the gutters, holding up in weed beds on the way. On the low, any bass in the shallow areas will be resting in the japweed beds. At low tide, the beds closest to shore become very shallow and bass will move to deeper beds further into the lagoon.  Mullet will often be found cruising the open sandy areas between the weed beds. Some fish will pull right out to the kelp reefs at Le Longet and L’Etachon and beyond White Rock.

As expected, most pollack in the area will be found in deeper water on the outer heads. There are some days when they can make up most of the top catch and others when none are landed.

On the rising tide, bass and mullet generally move along the coast and pass through the main lagoon. At this stage of tide the bass will be alert and more difficult to catch. Few fish push up the gutters until well into the rise.

Tidal Currents

 At the start of the competition the water will be at the end of the pier. The tide will pull out quickly and the main gutter will be nearly empty at low tide. The current eases at the end of the gutter and continues South West through the lagoon.  The water emptying from the lagoon picks up to a fast flow as it is forced between the reefs at White Rock. This is the simplest route to some of the main japweed beds and to deeper water beyond White Rock. In open water the main tidal flow on the drop travels westward along south coast of the Island.

Slack water is the open sea is generally around an hour before low and lasts for around an hour. This can vary within some of the complex gutter systems.

To the east side of Seymour Tower the tide pulls southward out of Grouville Bay and around la Conchiee. A strong flow continues in this direction right through till half tide on the rise. Slack in the open water beyond Seymour Tower is at half tide.

In open water, the incoming tide pushes eastward along the south coast if the island. It passes Icho tower then White Rock. To the inside of Icho Tower, the flow is eastward into the main lagoon. Just south of white Rock some of the current is diverted south by the reefs. This area should be avoided after low.

After passing White Rock, the rising tide heads through the lagoon toward the mouth of the main La Rocque gutter. A strong flow will start to push back up the main gutter around an hour after low. This is the easiest return option. The tide will also push up the La Canne De L’Orgion gutter and another parallel gutter closer to shore. Both these gutters lead to Seymour slipway and will involve a short walk along the beach back to La Rocque. South of the mouth of La Rocque gutter, the rising tide diverts back out toward the Conchiee. The area should be avoided on the rise.

Around the L’Etachon reefs, a strong current will begin to run East just before low water. This converges with the south flowing current at La Conchiee and runs offshore. It is best to avoid these areas on the rise. It is possible to walk back to La Rocque from any point directly along the shoreline. From many areas this involves walking over reefs. Toward the end of the competition, the main La Rocque Gutter will have filled to a point near the end of the pier.

(The map and tidal information supplied in these documents can not be relied upon as being accurate.)