CatchWindow fishing intelligence

San Francisco, CA Daily Water Report — October 7, 2026

San Francisco gets a clear nod for sailing and a qualified yes for boating today; paddlers and divers have workable windows, but the water deserves more attention than the pleasant-looking forecast might suggest. The best all-around stretch is late morning, roughly 9:48 AM through noon, when the 1.69 m high tide at 10:19 AM overlaps a solunar major period. Winds are forecast to remain manageable through much of the day, with a representative WSW 9 knots and gusts near 13 knots. That combination supports the day’s strong sailing score of 9.2/10 and a solid 7.8 for boating. Waves hold in a notably steady 0.8–0.9 m range, with a long-period 0.38 m southwest swell at 16.9 seconds adding some energy without making the whole day a washing machine. Kayaking rates 6.3/10, better than the more marginal recent stretch but still a choose-your-window proposition. The early part of the day offers the lightest winds, while the evening has the day’s strongest gust forecast—15 knots around 6 PM—so it is not the time to discover how much freeboard you really have. The 0.19 m/s current toward 14 degrees is another small-but-real factor for human-powered craft. Diving holds at 7.3/10, matching yesterday’s score. Marine SST is forecast near 16.1 C, while the supplied SST reading is 18 C; either way, dress for cool water rather than the warm-looking air, which may reach 22.1 C. Atmospheric visibility is forecast at 12.2 km, but that is not an underwater-visibility promise. Chlorophyll is very high at 5.9 mg/m³, indicating bloom conditions and another reason not to assume clear water. Fishing comes in at 6.8/10, with the late-morning major period and the 4:18–5:18 AM minor period the more favorable timing cues. Wildlife scores 7.2/10, with low-tide proximity around 3:54 PM and the 4:18–5:18 PM minor period worth watching from shore. Compared with October 6, sailing improves, boating eases slightly, and fishing slips from 7.2 to 6.8; conditions remain broadly steady rather than dramatically changed. Thursday stays modest near 0.9–1.0 m, then seas build Friday and especially Saturday to 1.6–1.9 m before easing next week. Best bet: rig the sailboat for late morning, use the high tide, and be back with the dock lines on before the evening gusts start acting important.