The CatchWindow blog

What the times and heights in a tide table mean, what the heights are measured from, and why the real water level can differ from the prediction.

Why tidal range grows and shrinks over a two-week cycle, what the sun and moon have to do with it, and what it means for anyone on the water.

What slack water is, why it often does not coincide with high or low tide, and why paddlers, divers and boats in narrows plan around it.

How basin shape, shallow water, inlets and rivers change the tide over short distances, and how to choose the right tide station for a spot.

Tidal range is how far the water rises and falls; tidal current is how fast it flows. Why one does not predict the other, and how to plan with both.

Why anglers in tidal waters plan around moving water and the turn of the tide, how that varies by place and species, and the limits of the rule.

How to read a wind forecast: what a knot is, why the gust figure matters, how wind direction is named, and what the Beaufort scale looks like on the water.

What significant wave height really means, why wave period matters as much as height, and why short steep chop can be harder on a small boat than swell.

What onshore, offshore and cross-shore winds are, why an offshore wind is so dangerous for paddlers and inflatables, and how sea breezes and fetch fit in.

What barometric pressure is, what a rising or falling barometer says about the weather, and how strong the evidence is that pressure affects fish feeding.

How sea fog forms, why it can last through wind and daylight, what it means for small craft, and why visibility forecasts are only a rough guide.

Why two forecasts for the same place differ: different models, update times and grid sizes, plus local effects no model sees. How to use the disagreement.

What solunar major and minor periods are, how the tables are worked out from the moon's position, and what the evidence does and does not show.

How the moon's phase changes tidal range and night-time light, what anglers believe about new and full moons, and where the evidence stands.

Why the hours around sunrise and sunset are often productive, what civil twilight means, and how to prepare for fishing safely in dim light.

How water temperature drives fish metabolism, oxygen and seasonal movements, what a thermocline is, and why a surface reading can mislead.

How to plan a kayak or paddleboard outing around wind and tidal current: which way to go first, when to cross, and when to stay ashore.

How tide height changes a boat ramp, why to check the tide for retrieval as well as launch, and the habits that keep launching safe and courteous.

Why cold water is dangerous even on warm days, what happens to the body in the first minutes of immersion, and the precautions that matter most.

An ordered routine for checking forecast, wind, tide, waves, visibility, daylight and water temperature before going afloat, ending with plan B.

Forecasts, model output and activity scores help choose a day. Charts, official tables and warnings are what to navigate by. How to use both sensibly.