yep, and it just takes time on the water in a given area to learn it..

I don't know much about the Gulf Coast tides.
But you're right about the tides in Alaska huge.
One reason it is so dangerous to navigate, you better make sure you can get out or you might get stuck or hit something.
We fished for Chinook with the tide going in and for halibut when it was going out. Wrangell Narrows area

Nice post. Same principles apply to fishing the surf?

Yes, and local lakes.
Look for water currents where you can get a long scent trail.
If the currents not moving then the scent trail doesn't move far from the bait and if it's to fast it gets blown up.
So slack tide could be slow fishing same if it's the middle of the tide where it runs the fastest.