CatchWindow fishing intelligence
Cape Town, South Africa Daily Water Report — August 23, 2026
Today's the day for surfers in Cape Town's harbor, with a solid surfing score of 8.5/10. The waves are rolling in at a decent 2.08 meters with a swell coming from 237 degrees. The wind is cooperating, staying mostly light at 3 knots from the SSE, which should make for some smooth rides. If you're keen to paddle out, aim for the morning session to catch the cleanest conditions before the wind picks up later tonight. Divers will also find today quite inviting, with a 7.4/10 suitability score. The water temperature is a brisk 13.9°C, and with moderate chlorophyll levels, visibility might be decent despite the thick fog limiting atmospheric views to a mere 0.1 km. Just be prepared for that chilly plunge! Fishing is rated at 6.8/10 today, with solunar peaks at dawn and dusk. The waxing gibbous moon might not be your best friend, but a falling barometer could stir things up. Without tide data, it's a bit of a gamble, but if you're up for it, the early morning or late evening might be your best bets. Boaters and kayakers should exercise caution. With a boating score of 5.4/10 and kayaking at 4.9/10, conditions are marginal. The swell and ocean current, moving at 0.9 m/s, could make for a challenging outing. Keep an eye on the wind, which is expected to gust up to 23.7 knots later tonight. Looking ahead, the next few days will see similar wave heights, with the wind peaking mid-week. By the weekend, conditions should calm significantly, with wave heights dropping to around 1.4 meters. If you're planning a trip, Saturday the 28th looks like the best bet for a relaxed outing on the water, with mild temperatures and minimal wind.
- Report date
- August 23, 2026
- Report status
- Permanent PM Brain report
- Time basis
- Live
- Top activity
- WINDOW IS OPEN
How the water looked at Cape Town, South Africa
The conditions record includes 9.9 °C air temperature, 2.6 knot wind, gusts to 9.7 knots, and 1028.7 hPa pressure.
Ocean: NOAA CoastWatch; Tides: unavailable; Marine: Open-Meteo marine forecast; Weather: Open-Meteo forecast and current conditions
Earlier Cape Town, South Africa daily reports
This is the earliest finished report currently available for this location.