CatchWindow fishing intelligence

Montauk, NY Daily Water Report — August 28, 2026

A solid all-around day on the water, with diving and fishing offering the strongest draws. The verdict for August 28th: go early or late, and get below the surface for the best experience. Diving scores a 7.3 out of 10, buoyed by a mild sea surface temperature of 21.8°C, which is a full degree above the seasonal average, and gentle representative southerly winds around 4 knots that should keep the surface calm. The midday low tide around 4:13 PM coincides with the major solunar period running from 11:50 AM to 1:50 PM, giving the fishing a 6.6 score—decent, but not the peak we saw yesterday at 7.0, likely because the overcast sky and high humidity are muting things a bit. The trade-off is the swell. At 0.72 meters coming from 159 degrees with a short 4.3-second period, it’s a bit jumbled for surfers, though the 6.6 score is right inline with yesterday’s 6.8. The 0.84-meter overall wave height is manageable for most boats, but the ocean current is pushing east at a noticeable 1.7 meters per second, so paddlers and kayakers will want to factor that drift into their route planning. Boating scores a 6.2, down from 7.3 two days ago, reflecting that modest chop and the steady cloud cover. Historically, this week has been a mixed bag. The 8.3 boating score on the 24th was a standout, but since then wind and wave consistency have faded. The full moon tonight, rising at 7:34 PM, will pull stronger tidal swings—today’s 0.77-meter high at 10:05 PM is the highest of the cycle. That evening flood, paired with the minor solunar period from 6:20 to 7:20 PM, might perk up the wildlife viewing, which earned a 6.8. Looking ahead, Friday holds promise with a slight dip in wave height to 0.6-0.7 meters and lighter winds, but by Saturday a trough swings through, doubling the peak wind to 18.6 knots and kicking up an 18% rain chance. Sunday through Tuesday stay marginal, with building swell into the 1-meter range by September 2nd. For today, your best bet is a late-afternoon dive session during the slack before the incoming tide, when the water is warmest and the surface is quietest.