I don't remember how this conversation got started at Clear Lake but here is what I have to say now.

A night tourney any where has it's perils. Middle River may be a little more perilous than Rancho for sure. The only difference from a daytime tourney would be the absence of sunlight. I don't think that this would be a good tourney for a BnT newbie or a Middle River rookie to attend but for those of us who are familiar with MR that shouldn't be too much of a problem.

Clint and Dave couldn't have picked a better night all year to hold a night tourney at MR.

Full moon, incoming tide switching to outgoing, it's a small swing (1.8 feet in 5 hours = light current) and a plus one foot low (easier to cross the barrier on the outgoing). The only unknown is the wind it could be blowin or it could be flat. Either way it's the same variable in the daylight.

Since we are within the six hour rule if you did it from 6 to midnight or 7 to 1 you would be able to take advantage of the tide and moon.

Tides for Borden Highway Bridge, Middle River starting with August 16, 2008.

Sat
16 Low 1:02 AM 1.2
16 High 6:31 AM 3.4
16 Low 2:04 PM -0.1
16 High 8:22 PM 2.8
Sun
17 Low 1:46 AM 1.0

Sunset: 7:57 PM
Moonrise: 7:57 PM
% Moon Visible: 99

There are ways to stay safe on the water at night. We alwayes used walkie talkies at Rancho, We all have cell phones, and there is always the buddy system. Many ways to be safe on the river at night.

My 0.02

MT