CatchWindow fishing intelligence

Atlantic City, NJ Daily Water Report — August 28, 2026

Today’s best bet is squarely on the water—boating and kayaking scores are the clear standouts, each hitting well into the 8s, while the fishing and surfing windows are there for the taking if you time it right. The marine conditions have settled into a very agreeable groove: representative winds are a light 4 knots out of the east-northeast, gusting only to 6, and the ocean surface is carrying a modest 0.7-meter swell at 6.6 seconds, with wave heights staying under a meter all day. That combination of mild breeze and gentle sea state is why the boating score sits at 8.4 and kayaking at 8.1—both reflecting the kind of flat, manageable afternoon that feels like a reward after the last few days. The calmest moment arrives near 19:00, when the wave height dips to 0.64 meters, but the entire midday-to-late-afternoon stretch from the low tide at 14:14 through the evening high at 20:30 is prime for a stable, comfortable paddle or cruise. Fishing sits at 6.8, which is a respectable middle-ground number, though it’s a step down from yesterday’s 7.4 and well below the 8.3 wildlife score from two days ago. The solunar major period from 11:59 to 13:59 aligns nicely with the low tide slack, and the rising barometer at 1016 hPa favors improving activity, but the light wind and mild chop may not be enough to trigger a strong feed. Surfing at 6.1 is viable but uninspiring—the 0.6-meter swell from 135 degrees has a short 4.3-second period, so waves will be small and crumbly, best for a longboard or a beginner session near the morning high tide at 08:16. The past few days have consistently offered better diving—scores in the mid-8s from the 22nd through the 27th—but with no water temperature data or visibility readings available for today, it’s impossible to evaluate; that NaN score is a fair reflection of the gap. Looking ahead, Friday keeps the same easy look with waves holding at 0.6 to 0.7 meters and winds staying under 8 knots, so the boating and kayaking momentum should carry. Saturday bumps the wind to nearly 13 knots, which will start to rough up the surface for small craft but could perk up the surfing if the swell direction holds. The real change arrives Tuesday and Wednesday, when wave heights climb toward 1.2 meters and precipitation chances creep above 25 percent—worth watching if you’re planning a multi-day trip. For now, get out there this afternoon while the sea is flat and the barometer is rising.