CatchWindow fishing intelligence

Yakutat, Yakutat Bay, AK Daily Water Report — October 6, 2026

Yakutat Bay is a qualified go for fishing and sailing, but a cautious no-rush day for small open boats and paddlers: the breeze is manageable, yet the bay is carrying a persistent 2.0–2.4 m swell that deserves more respect than the 8-knot representative wind suggests. The strongest fishing window runs through the late-morning solunar major period, 9:06–11:06 AM, neatly overlapping the 11:08 AM high tide. Pressure is rising toward 1014 hPa, and the fishing score reaches 7/10, better than the last few days’ middling stretch. A second useful opportunity arrives from 9:06–11:06 PM during the evening major period, close to the 10:52 PM high. The 3:36–4:36 AM minor period falls near the 4:30 AM low, while the 3:36–4:36 PM minor period precedes the 4:55 PM low; both are shorter plays, with darkness and cool conditions adding their own tax. Sailing rates a respectable 6.8/10. Southeast winds generally range from 4.5 to 11.7 knots, but gusts may reach 21.6 knots around 10 AM, when the late-morning tide and solunar window are also in play. That is plenty of reason to keep sail plans adjustable. Boating is only 5.6/10 and kayaking 4.6/10, not because of a big wind-wave chop—wind waves are just 0.14 m—but because the longer-period southwest swell is running about 2.28 m at 7.95 seconds. The calmest wave height is still about 2.04 m near 4 AM. Current is forecast around 0.39 m/s toward 310 degrees. Expect raw, damp-feeling air: 7–9 C, 96% humidity, extensive cloud, and a 4 C-ish apparent temperature. Forecast visibility is 11.7 km, but that is atmospheric visibility, not a read on the water. Marine SST is 10.9 C. No diving score is available today, so there is no basis here to recommend it. Compared with October 5, wind has eased slightly and pressure is much higher, lifting fishing while boating improves only modestly; the swell remains the limiting feature. Wednesday through Saturday look progressively friendlier on wave height, with Friday near 0.9 m and light winds, before stronger wind and rebuilding seas return Sunday. Best bet: fish the rising-tide late morning, but let the swell—not the modest wind—make the final call on how far offshore you go.