CatchWindow fishing intelligence

Annapolis, MD Daily Water Report — October 8, 2026

Annapolis gets a clear green light for boating and a strong nod for kayaking and diving, with one important caveat: the morning gusts have enough bite to keep the day from being a total glass-off. Boating leads the board at 9.2/10, kayaking rates 8.6, and diving 8.4. Those are favorable conditions, not a substitute for judgment, gear, or a look at the water before committing. The practical sweet spot is after the 9:00 AM gust peak, when the day’s strongest gusts are forecast near 20 knots, and again toward evening as the breeze eases. Representative wind is southwest at 5 knots, though sustained wind can range from 2.5 to 8.8 knots. Waves are modest at 0.3 m with a short 2.5-second period, built mostly from 0.22 m wind waves. That is manageable water for small craft, but the short chop can still make an exposed run feel busier than the headline height suggests. The calmest forecast water arrives near 11:00 PM, around 0.08 m, well after daylight has packed up. For paddlers, the low-water turns at 10:15 AM and 10:34 PM bookend high tides of 0.47 m at 4:01 AM and 4:20 PM. The late-afternoon high tide coincides with the 4:53–5:53 PM solunar minor period and comes before sunset at 6:41 PM, offering a useful daylight window. Fishing is a middling 5.7/10, with the stronger solunar period from 10:23 AM to 12:23 PM; rising pressure and a dry forecast help, but it is not a standout score. Wildlife rates 6.1/10, while sailing is a respectable but not punchy 5.9/10—enough breeze to work with at times, not much promise of a long, steady power session. Air temperatures run from 12.8 to 26.6 C under very little cloud, while marine SST is 20 C, about 0.4 C below average. Atmospheric visibility is forecast at 16.3 km; that does not describe underwater visibility. Compared with recent CatchWindow scores, boating remains near its excellent recent form, while fishing and sailing ease below their stronger days earlier this week. Friday and Saturday look especially smooth, with waves mostly 0.0–0.2 m and little rain risk; Sunday turns wetter and choppier. Best bet: launch after the morning gusts settle, use the late-afternoon high tide, and be off the water before the evening light does the same.