CatchWindow fishing intelligence

Burlington, Delaware River, NJ Daily Water Report — August 28, 2026

This is a day for paddlers and powerboaters to own the river. Kayaking and boating both score near-perfect grades, and for good reason: the water is essentially flat, with measured wave heights holding at zero all day, and the wind barely breathes—representative northerly flow at just one knot, gusting only to two for most of the period. If you've got a skiff, a canoe, or a sit-on-top, the window is wide open from dawn until dusk. The rising barometer, now at 1016 hPa and climbing, reinforces a stable air mass that should hold clear through evening. Fishing is a more nuanced call at 6.5 out of 10. The tidal push is generous—morning low at 10:11 sets up the classic outgoing feed, and the afternoon high at 15:28 aligns with a major solunar period through 14:01. Moonlight from the full moon, rising at 19:45, will extend evening action. Water clarity is not reported, and the fish score is weighed against that unknown plus relatively calm pressure. Yesterday's fishing score was much higher (8.2) with nearly identical conditions, so the comparison suggests the solunar alignment today is slightly less optimal for the scoring model. Still, if you pick the last of the ebb into the early afternoon high, you'll be on the water when the model sees the most potential. Surfing and sailing remain nonstarters—4.5 and 4.6 respectively. With zero wave height and no swell, any break is out of the question, and while a sailor could ghost along in a drifter under four-knot winds, you'd be better off paddling. Diving is not scored due to unavailable water temperature and clarity data, so treat that as an incomplete. For wildlife watchers, the score of 8.3 suggests a solid morning. Low tide at 10:11 exposes shoreline habitat, and with wind below five knots, birds and mammals working the edge should be easy to spot without chop or glare. The overcast sky (100% cloud) will keep light soft and viewing comfortable through mid-morning before the sun burns through. Looking ahead, Friday continues the flat-calm pattern with similar wave heights but a slight uptick in afternoon wind to around 5–6 knots. Saturday warms into the low 30s under a building southwesterly breeze near 9 knots, and by Sunday the chance of showers creeps in around 20 percent. The real shift arrives next week: temperatures climb toward 35°C by Wednesday, and rain chances rise to 40 percent, which could stir the river with runoff. Best bet today: launch at first light with the falling tide under a full moon's last gleam, and let the quiet river carry you.