CatchWindow fishing intelligence

Point Reyes, CA Daily Water Report — August 27, 2026

Today's Point Reyes water is a study in contrasts: outstanding for sailing and surfing, a solid play for divers and anglers, but a no-go for anyone hoping to launch a small boat or kayak. The overriding story is a stiff, gusty NNW wind cranking into the mid-teens with a 20-plus knot ceiling, and that wind is shaping every suitability score on the board. Sailing earns the top mark at 7.9, and this is the window for anyone who likes a brisk reach. The wind is strong but steady enough in direction, and the 1.9-metre mixed sea will give a lively ride. Surfers should also feel encouraged by that 7.6 score: the 0.9-metre swell from 290° isn't huge, but the short-period wind chop is adding another 1.5 metres of bumpy, punchy face. If the wind lays down late in the day, the afternoon could offer cleaner walls. For divers, the 7.2 score is respectable given the surface chop and a 14.4°C water temperature that runs nearly two degrees above the long-term average for late August. That warmth doesn't do much for visibility in a 1.9-metre sea, but nearshore sites sheltered from the northwest wind could be worth a look. Fishing scores 7.1, driven primarily by the solunar clock: two major periods bracket midday and midnight, with minor windows around dawn and dusk. The high chlorophyll reading suggests plenty of material in the water column, though you should not infer fish activity from that number alone. The primary hazard today is the wind. Boating drops to a 4.0, and kayaking to 3.2—neither of those are safe recommendations for the exposed coastline in these conditions. The representative wind of 15 knots gusting to 30 has not let up consistently for three days now; yesterday saw similar strength with a 14.3-knot average, and the day before that was calmer at 9.3 knots. Today is firmly back in the blustery pattern. Looking ahead, the wind relaxes noticeably by Monday, with peak gusts dropping below 8 knots by August 31 and wave heights easing to around a metre by September 1. The real prize is early next week, when the ocean goes flat and the sailing and kayaking scores should flip entirely. For tonight, the waxing gibbous moon rises at 19:09 after a 98% illumination, so if you're fishing the evening minor period starting at 18:05, plan for bright overhead light that will push fish deeper. Best bet: surf the morning bump and sail the afternoon breeze, because the wind that scrambles small boats puts the power in your hands.