CatchWindow fishing intelligence

Burlington, Delaware River, NJ Daily Water Report — October 5, 2026

Burlington gets a strong go for boating and paddling today, with fishing respectable but not quite the headline act. The river forecast is essentially flat—0.0 m waves and no swell—and the representative west-southwest wind is only 3 knots. That combination earns boating an 8.4/10 and kayaking a 7.8/10: a notably easygoing setup for getting underway, provided you still plan around the tide and keep an eye on the afternoon wind increase. The cleanest practical window is early through late morning. Dawn arrives at 6:32 AM, sunrise is 6:59 AM, and the tide rises from the 5:17 AM low toward a 10:31 AM high of 2.06 m. Fishing’s 6.4/10 score has useful support from the 7:48–9:48 AM solunar major period, light winds, and rising pressure near 1017 hPa. The evening has another worthwhile fishing and shoreline-exploring window during the 7:48–9:48 PM major period, with the tide rebuilding toward the 10:53 PM high of 2.32 m. The tradeoff comes after midday. Winds range up to 11 knots, with the strongest gust forecast at 18.5 knots around 3 PM. That is not a wave-making forecast—the marine guidance remains flat—but it can still turn a placid paddle or small-boat outing into a more workmanlike return, especially on exposed reaches. Sailing sits at 6.2/10: enough breeze later to be interesting, but the gust spread is worth respecting. No rain is indicated, skies are lightly clouded, and atmospheric visibility is forecast around 12.2 km; that is useful topside visibility, not a read on underwater conditions. Diving has no usable score or water-temperature value available, so it is not a recommendation day for that activity. Compared with the reconstructed CatchWindow scores from the last week, boating matches the best recent 8.4/10, while fishing eases back from yesterday’s 7.6/10. Wildlife rates 8.2/10, aided by light wind, low-tide timing, and the day’s solunar pattern. The next several days stay wave-free in the marine forecast, with generally modest peak winds and no meaningful rain chance until a 23% chance appears Sunday. Best bet: launch early, fish the rising tide through the morning solunar window, and be pointed home before the 3 PM gusts decide to add personality.