CatchWindow fishing intelligence

Tolchester Beach, MD Daily Water Report — August 28, 2026

Today is a fantastic day for getting on the water, particularly for anyone looking for flat, calm conditions. This is a day where paddlers and powerboaters reign supreme, with a kayaking score of 9/10 and a boating score of 8.6/10 leading the board. The major story is the wind: representative easterlies at just 3 knots, with gusts staying under 7 knots for most of the daylight hours. Combine that with wave heights that barely register—a representative 0.1 meters—and you’ve got the kind of glassy surface that makes for effortless paddling and trouble-free cruising. The tide will add a bit of character, with a low at 14:19 dropping to 0.16 meters, so keep an eye on any exposed shoreline or shallow channels in the hours around that low. For anglers, the day offers a solid 6.1 out of 10. That’s a slight step back from recent days—yesterday scored a 7.4, and the three days before that all hovered around 7.1 to 7.3. The dip likely reflects the trade-off between fantastic water conditions and less ideal solunar timing for a full-day session. The major solunar period runs from 12:08 to 14:08, which conveniently brackets the afternoon low tide. That’s your best window, though the late-evening minor period from 18:38 to 19:38 could offer a bonus push if you’re willing to stay out past sunset at 19:45. The full moon overhead means overnight activity might be strong, but during the day, the high sun and 100% cloud cover keep things muted. Surfing and sailing are both middling—4.5 and 4.8 respectively—not because conditions are bad, but because there simply isn’t enough push or consistency for either. The swell is negligible at 0.1 meters from the south, and the wind is too light to fill a sail consistently. Comparing the last five days, you’ll notice that diving scored a steady 8.4 from the 22nd through the 27th. Today, that data isn’t available, but given the similar water temperature of 26.8°C and minimal wave action, the underwater visibility would likely be as good as it has been. The water is comfortable, the surface is still, and without recent rain to stir things up, it’s probably a fine day for a dive if you had plans. Wildlife watchers get a 6.5, which is a bit below the 7.4 from yesterday and the 8.7 from the 23rd. The wind is low, which is good, but the timing around low tide is the main draw for spotting activity near shore. Looking ahead, the next three days show a gradual uptick in wind, with peak gusts reaching over 12 knots by Saturday. Wave heights remain low, however, so kayaking and boating should stay solid. Sunday brings the highest air temps of the stretch, pushing 32°C, with a slight rise in rain chance by Monday and Tuesday. If you can get out today, do it—this is as close to a perfect mid-summer flat-water day as you’ll see this week. The best bet? Launch at dawn, ride the ebb out, and enjoy