CatchWindow fishing intelligence

Panama City, FL Daily Water Report — August 23, 2026

Today is a boat-first day on Panama City water, with diving and kayaking close behind and almost nothing in the wave budget for surfing. Open-Meteo’s current reading and forecast put a light west wind near 4 knots, mostly 1 to 7 through the day, under nearly clear skies and no rain. Waves hold 0.2 to 0.3 meters on a short 3.5-second period, calmest near 10:00 at 0.22 meters. That combination is why boating scores 8.6 and kayaking 7.4; it is also why surfing sits at 4.5 and sailing only 6.2. Light air and tiny, short swell make an easy platform, not a ride. The tax is heat. Air runs 26.7 to 32.3 C and already feels like 35.2 C in 95 percent humidity, with pressure steady near 1015 hPa. Atmospheric visibility is 13.7 km; that is not underwater clarity. NOAA’s tide is a modest 0.54-meter high at 06:44, falling to 0.06 meters at 18:02. Marine SST is 30.5 C, a tenth of a degree above average, and a 0.6 m/s current setting toward 146 degrees is the other real tradeoff for anyone in or on the water. Diving’s 7.7 reflects the quiet surface and warm water, not a promise of what you will see. Fishing is a middling 6, built from solunar timing, tide state, that stable pressure, light wind, and whatever clarity is on hand. The morning major, 07:48 to 09:48, sits just after high water; the evening major, 19:48 to 21:48, follows the low. Wildlife is also a 6, from those solunar windows, the evening low, and the light breeze, not from any animals we can claim. Against yesterday’s reconstructed scores, boating and kayaking improved as wind eased from 7.5 knots; sailing slipped from 7.9 for the same reason, fishing eased from 6.6, and diving and surfing barely moved. After sunset the wind can gust to 12.5 knots around 23:00, so the late window is the day’s least settled hour. Monday’s forecast brings a 41 percent rain chance and peak wind near 12 knots, then midweek stays warm with 36 to 45 percent rain odds and even smaller seas. Best bet: take the morning glass in a boat or on a paddle, and be done before the heat and that late gust argue otherwise.