CatchWindow fishing intelligence

Ship John Shoal, NJ Daily Water Report — October 5, 2026

Ship John Shoal gets a strong go for small craft and paddlers today, with exceptionally slight seas and light early wind doing most of the heavy lifting. Boating rates 8.8/10 and kayaking 9.3/10, but treat those as suitability guides, not permission slips: conditions are forecast to change late, with gusts building as high as 24 knots around 10 PM. The cleanest window is from dawn through the morning. Sunrise is 7:01 AM, and the 7:50–9:50 AM solunar major period overlaps the falling tide after the 5:54 AM high. Wind is light from the northwest early, while waves sit near 0.04 m with only a tiny 3.6-second chop. That is flat-water territory by the numbers, and the slow south-setting ocean current, about 0.06 m/s, is modest—but still worth accounting for around shoal water and tidal movement. Fishing earns a respectable 6.9/10, below yesterday’s 7.4 but better than several recent days. The morning major period is the obvious first choice; the 2:20–3:20 PM minor period arrives after the 12:11 PM low, and the evening high at 6:21 PM leads into the 7:50–9:50 PM major period. The late option has timing on its side, but not the wind forecast, so the morning is the more comfortable bet. Diving holds at 7.6/10, matching the recent run, helped by low waves and a marine SST near 20.1 C. Do not confuse the reported 12.4 km atmospheric visibility with underwater clarity. CoastWatch chlorophyll is very high at 9.49 mg/m³, indicating bloom conditions, which may be relevant to water appearance but does not establish underwater visibility. Sailing is only middling at 5.1/10: the morning may feel underpowered with very light wind, while the late gust increase is a less friendly trade. Wildlife suitability is 6.3/10, with low tide near midday and the afternoon minor period offering the better timing. The next several days remain remarkably flat, generally 0.0–0.1 m waves, with mostly dry forecasts and peak winds largely below 12 knots through Friday; Saturday looks especially calm. Best bet: launch early, enjoy the glassy morning, and be back in before the late-day wind starts acting like it owns the place.