CatchWindow fishing intelligence

Alameda, CA Daily Water Report — October 4, 2026

Alameda gets a clear green light for most on-water plans today: boating is the standout at 8.7/10, with kayaking 7.6, diving 7.4 and sailing 7.2. The water is unusually manageable for a coastal day, with waves holding near 0.3 m, a modest 0.2 m west swell, and light NNE wind generally below 8 knots. That is a pleasant setup, not a permission slip—there is still a reported ocean current near 0.42 m/s toward 339 degrees, so small craft should plan their return leg rather than discovering it late. The best all-around window is the morning high-tide and solunar overlap, roughly 7:08 to 9:08 AM, centered on the 8:28 AM high of 1.60 m. It offers daylight, light wind, and the day’s strongest fishing timing. Fishing rates 6.7/10, an improvement from yesterday’s 5.8, helped by the rising barometer and favorable timing, though it remains a decent rather than exceptional call. A second useful period arrives around the evening high tide at 7:03 PM, with the 7:08–9:08 PM major solunar period extending into dusk. For paddlers and boaters, early morning and the later afternoon-to-evening transition look preferable to the midafternoon, when the strongest gusts are forecast near 9.3 knots around 3 PM. Sailing has enough breeze to be workable but not much to spare; expect a light-air day rather than a canvas-straining one. Diving’s 7.4 score matches yesterday, supported by low waves and warm 20.5 C marine SST, but atmospheric visibility near 24.9 km should not be mistaken for underwater visibility. CoastWatch chlorophyll is very high at 5.99 mg/m³, indicating bloom conditions; that is a water-quality and clarity consideration, not a fishing forecast. Compared with the recent run, boating is slightly below yesterday’s 8.9 but remains strong, while kayaking is down from 8.0 as winds edge higher. The water is also markedly warmer than the reconstructed recent values, with SST running 3.1 C above average. The next several days stay dry, light-winded, and mostly flat through Friday, before waves build toward 0.4–0.7 m Saturday. Best bet: launch early, use the 8:28 AM high tide as your clock, and be back with plenty of daylight to spare.