I wouldn’t worry too much about online predictions, however they’re correct in the sense that tide states will affect fishing.
Stating the obvious, I realise, but what I mean is springs/neaps, both will have a big impact on where to fish. I tend to find most marks fish better on one or the other, or indeed about mid way through the tidal cycle.
For me the thought process runs tide-location-conditions-bait and then to a lesser extent, tactics.
I want the first four to be somewhere near correct as much as possible.
Thankfully living on the coast I can run a multitude of options through my head and usually find somewhere to fish in most scenarios.
I appreciate that’s not possible for everyone and indeed sometimes I will just go out to try somewhere even though I know it probably won’t do a lot. And it usually doesn’t, but sometimes you can be pleasantly surprised.
But generally I find if you can get the location, time (and by time I mean tide as well), and conditions (which includes weather/wind direction) right, you’re in with a shout of a better session.
As far as trying new marks, or ones you have little info on, all you can really do is try different options, day, night, neap, spring, flood/ebb and see what works.
Obviously it’s not a quick process unless you can feed into someone else’s knowledge or join them for a trip.
But I would urge anyone to try and target the optimum window as best they can, or try a different spot if the desired location doesn’t have the right tide/conditions etc.
I appreciate most of us have limited time to fish, but whatever window you do have, try and match it to a location that gives the best options for success.