CatchWindow fishing intelligence

Calcasieu Pass, LA Daily Water Report — August 28, 2026

Boating and kayaking own today at Calcasieu Pass. With an east-northeast breeze barely breaking 5 knots most of the day and wave heights hovering around a flat 0.16 meters, the Gulf is about as cooperative as it gets for getting on the water. This is an ideal window for running the pass or exploring the nearshore—flat calm conditions that make even a small skiff feel stable and a paddleboard feel like a walk in the park. The morning outbound tide drops from a high just before dawn to a low around 9:52, which concentrates whatever’s moving through the pass into a narrower channel. The full moon overhead means the tidal swing is a bit more exaggerated than typical, but with only about 0.4 meters of range, it’s hardly dramatic—think gentle pull rather than ripping current. The southwest swell at 2.6 seconds is so short-period it barely qualifies as a swell, and the 0.02-meter wind waves are negligible. Underwater visibility for divers is modest at best—the chlorophyll reading is very high, meaning the water has that green, plankton-rich tint that limits how far you can see. Still, the 6.8 diving score reflects that the surface conditions are outstanding for getting in and out, even if the view beneath is soupy. Fishing scores a 6.4, down from yesterday’s 8.1, and that drop makes sense. The solunar major period from 12:16 to 2:16 this afternoon aligns with the outgoing tide after the morning low, which could stir up some action, but stable high pressure and light wind don’t create the kind of stirring that triggers aggressive feeding. The bloom conditions indicated by the chlorophyll mean there’s plenty of forage around, but the calm, bright setup—only 2% cloud cover under that full August sun—often pushes fish deeper or into shade during the middle of the day. The surf is a nonstarter at 4.5; those ankle-high waves with a 3-second period won’t hold a face for anything serious. Compared to the last few days, today’s boating score ties yesterday’s 9.1 as the best in the past week, and the kayaking score of 8.5 beats everything since at least August 22. The tradeoff is heat—the feels-like temp pushing 39°C at midday is no joke, so hydrate early and often. Dawn patrol around 6:24 is your friend: cooler air, flat water, and the sunrise at 6:49. Looking ahead, tomorrow keeps the same glassy theme with a slight uptick in cloud cover and a 8% chance of rain—basically a carbon copy. By Sunday, wave heights creep up just a touch, and by Monday small craft might start feeling a little more motion, but nothing prohibitive. This stretch of late-summer flatness is rare; get out while you can. Best bet: drop a line on the last of the morning ebb under that full moon and watch the surface stay still enough to read a book while you wait.