CatchWindow fishing intelligence

Portland, ME Daily Water Report — August 28, 2026

Boating and diving earn top marks today, and given the conditions unfolding along the coast, that verdict holds up. An August full moon, light southerly wind under 10 knots, and a rising barometer set a stable stage. The tide runs low before dawn at 0.04m, then builds to a 2.80m high at 12:06—a classic solunar window around that high tide aligns with the fishing score of 7.4, which is the best we've seen since diving scored similarly two days ago. The chlorophyll reading is very high at 16.38 mg/m³, which in this context indicates a bloom rather than clear water, so divers should temper expectations for visibility. That said, the water temperature sits 1.2°C above the August average, and with wave height averaging 0.76m on a short 5.75-second period, the surface won't be punishing. The tradeoff today is the wind. It's calm now—representative south wind at 3 knots gusting to 9—but the forecast shows gusts climbing to 20 knots near 23:00 tonight. That means afternoon boaters and kayakers get a solid window, especially with waves staying below 1 meter until evening. The calmest waves arrive around 22:00 at 0.6m, but by then the wind will be building. Sailing scores a modest 5.6, reflecting that the light breeze may feel more fitful than steady. Surfing at 6.2 is workable for longboarders on the small southerly swell; the 0.6m swell from 161 degrees at 3.7 seconds won't produce much punch, but the low wind keeps conditions clean. Compared to yesterday, when sailing peaked at 9 under stronger breeze, today flips the script: boating jumped from 5.9 to 8, and diving held steady near 7.4. The past two days saw kayaking scores above 7, and today's 6.7 is still respectable, though the tidal current and afternoon wind will demand attention around the high tide change. Wildlife watchers should note the minor solunar period from 18:12 to 19:12, which brackets sunset at 19:27—a good bet for surface activity, though the wind may pick up by then. Looking ahead, Friday looks even calmer on the water, with waves dropping to 0.5-0.6m and wind under 10 knots. Saturday warms up but holds steady. By Sunday and Monday, wave heights shrink toward 0.2m, but rain chances creep in by Tuesday. If you're picking one window to commit to memory: take the two hours before and after that midday high tide—the solunar boost and light air make it the best bet for fishing or a stable run offshore.