Abstract: Based on the current data in spring and winter of 2017, the characteristics of currents, tidal current status, fluctuation tidal currents, residual currents and surface drifts in Honghai Bay are analyzed. Base on the observations at 3 temporary tidal level observation stations and 11 whole tide hydrologic observation stations in the study area, it is found that the relationship between the maximum and minimum velocity of the rising (falling) tidal current and the tidal level is not fixed at the high (low) tide or at the left or right side of the tidal level according to the relationship among the velocity of flow, the curve of flow direction and the curve of tidal level. It can be seen that tidal wave, dominated by the irregular halfday tidal current, is located between standing wave and forward wave. The nature of tidal current is mostly reciprocating except for a certain degree of rotation at some sites. The average rising current is up to 7 cm/s and the average backward current is up to 14 cm/s. The residual flow direction during spring tide and midtide in spring is E-direction generally. During the low tide, the residual flow direction is to the west except for the SE inclining current at a few stations. The residual flow direction is westward as a whole during spring tide and mid tide in winter. In the west of the bay the residual flow directs to the west in contrast to the east of the bay where it flows to the SE. Vertically, the velocity of residual flow decreases gradually from the surface to the bottom and the flow direction is basically the same.