A broad offshore planning page
The Southern Islands page uses an offshore profile and a marine forecast grid. It is designed for comparing possible departure periods, not for navigating, selecting a route or judging conditions beside a particular island. Offshore conditions can change between the forecast coordinate, the launch point and the water you actually fish.
Activity is not sea comfort
BiteLah keeps its activity estimate separate from the trip-condition label. Daylight timing, weather trends, moon context and modelled water movement contribute to activity. Wind, rain and available wave height have a stronger role in the trip label. A strong activity period can still be a poor boat period, and the skipper’s assessment must take priority.
Compare a block, not a single peak
The strongest connected hours are grouped into a best block. This makes the forecast more useful for a session that needs travel and setup time. Look at how wind, rain and waves behave across that block. If one factor is deteriorating quickly, the earlier part of the sequence may be more practical than the numerical peak.
Offshore pre-trip checks
- Confirm the boat, operator and crew plan independently of BiteLah.
- Review wind, rain and wave trends across the entire trip.
- Carry the required safety equipment and communications.
- Turn back or postpone when real conditions do not match the plan.