Hey Steve....Like Trigger and Scott and Speckhunter said..."fish when you can".....and over time, you will learn to fish all types of tides....AND....you will also go to places that are better fishing at certain times!!!
You said something above about "equal tides" and gave a timeframe of 8 hours, and I am NOT familiar with that terminology, but Highs and Lows happen four times per day...."Approx" every 6 hours.....but that is not exact and varies by about 20-30 minutes each day.....check out this info for NC from "saltwatertides.com" which I use to plan trips and vacations"
Tides for Cape Hatteras starting with April 22, 2014. Day High Tide Height Sunrise Moon Time % Moon
/Low Time Feet Sunset Visible
Tu 22 High 1:26 AM 3.5 6:21 AM Rise 1:53 AM 55
22 Low 7:59 AM 0.1 7:40 PM Set 12:54 PM
22 High 2:04 PM 2.8
22 Low 8:05 PM 0.2
Tide tables are based on solunar and historical info, and have NO IDEA what the local weather will be like on any given day....and in tidal areas, the wind direction and strength are very important!! Down here in JAX, FL, if the winds are out or the NE and strong, they pound the water into the St. Johns River and the high tides arrive earlier and higher than predicted, and then when the tides change, many of our small tidal creeks "flush" quickly, so you have to be aware of your area and not get stuck in the muck!! (wonder how I learned that?? LOL!!)
Anyway, my advice to new people down here is to NOT overthink it and just FISH WHEN YOU CAN!!!
Good Luck!!!
JohnYaksJax