Reef Casting: best time?

While reef-wading and casting this past week in Mauritius, I was getting
conflicting advice from folks. Some said it was better to reef cast during
HIGH tide, as the big fish were coming in over the reef to feed. However,
since I was wade-casting, that meant the high tide had pushed me back to the
shore and it was very hard to cast over the deeper water.

On the other hand, some folks advised me to reef cast during LOW tide, as I
could wade out in place to the reef face and cast out into the deeps.
However, folks also said that the big fish would not be near the reef face
at that time, as they feed nearshore during high tides.

The third advice I got was to fish during RISING tides, as the big fish were
coming in and I could reach them with my casts as I retreated. However the
rising tide also meant I could get stranded on a rock when my escape route
got flooded.

The fourth advice I got was fish during DROPPING tides, as I would not get
stranded and I could get at the bigger fish who were still over the reef.
However, they had already fed and were headed out to sea, so they would not
take a fly easily.

So I ask you, what phase of the tide is the best for wade casting on a reef?

--riverman