CatchWindow fishing intelligence

Santa Monica, CA Daily Water Report — August 28, 2026

Santa Monica's waters are calling, and today is a stellar day for surfing with an impressive 8.9 out of 10 suitability score. The waves are riding high at 0.88 meters with a sweet 11.25-second period, making this a prime day to catch some consistent swells. The swell coming from 199 degrees is perfectly aligned for some thrilling rides, especially with the calmest conditions expected around 7:00 AM. If you're a surfer, you won't want to miss this window. For those looking to enjoy other water activities, boating and diving are also looking good with scores of 7.9 and 7.3 respectively. The wind is a gentle 5 knots from the east, only gusting up to 8 knots, which should keep the seas manageable for most craft. The water temperature is a comfy 24.3°C, slightly warmer than usual with an SST anomaly of +1.5°C, making it pleasant for divers exploring beneath the surface. However, be mindful of the very high chlorophyll levels, indicating bloom conditions. While this can mean vibrant underwater scenes for divers, it might also affect water clarity in some areas. Anglers may find the fishing to be a bit tougher today with a score of 6.1, as solunar conditions and the absence of tide data might not be in their favor. Looking back, today's scores are a notch above yesterday's, especially for surfing and wildlife viewing, which has jumped to 8.5/10. As the full moon rises tonight at 19:12, expect a beautiful backdrop for evening activities. Looking ahead, wave heights will increase slightly over the next few days, peaking at 1.3 meters by August 30th. The weather remains warm and mostly dry, with minimal chances of rain. For a memorable experience, grab your board and hit the surf early—today's swells are not to be missed!