We timed our departure to pass under the Atlantic Beach Bridge near low tide. This meant passing under the higher Emerald Bridge before Low. Passed under Emerald at 9:05 am 2 hrs 20 minutes before low. Gauge Road 64 ½ feet. VHF was doubled over. Guage is accurate. We started out against the current but within 40 minutes the current turned and we made good time arriving way early for the Atlantic Beach bridge so we had to creep in the last couple of miles arriving at 11:33, 40 minutes before low. Gauge read 65′ cleared easy. Passed under Moorehead City Bridge at noon 22 minutes after low. Cleared easy.