Rex personally id only ever use balloons over foul ground to stop the liveys running into snags . Also saves fouling a sinker in that terrain as well. Over open clean bottom far easier to slide bait , and i have seen a very successful local fisher that catches a lot of kings during the summer near the esk mouth cast and freespool large yems, hooking the liveys near the anal fin . His hookups are usually within 10metres of the beach, often seeing the kings inhale the live baits . Wouldn't worry about the tides. The more baitfish activity the better the chance of success!.