CatchWindow fishing intelligence

Port Orford, OR Daily Water Report — August 27, 2026

Today the water is a strong yes for divers and wildlife watchers, with diving scoring an 8.6 and wildlife an 8.4—easily the top draws along this stretch of coast. A light northerly breeze around 6 knots, gusting to 10, keeps things calm on the surface, and the swell is a clean, modest 1-meter at 6.8 seconds from 279 degrees. That westerly groundswell, combined with minimal wind-wave chop (just 0.22 meters), means nearshore visibility should hold respectable for divers, especially given the water temperature sits at a warm 13°C, a full 3 degrees above the seasonal average. For anglers, the solunar major period from 11:43 to 13:43 aligns nicely with stable high pressure at 1018 hPa, earning fishing a solid 7.7—though note that no tide data is available for Port Orford today, so timing your drift around that midday window is your best bet. There are tradeoffs. Surfing scores a 7.9, but the wave period at 9.3 seconds is only fair, and the swell direction is more west than northwest, so expect soft, crumbly lines rather than punchy peaks. The calmest waves dip to 0.96 meters around midnight, but by mid-morning you'll see the typical 1.0 to 1.2-meter range. Kayaking takes a hit at 6.0, not because conditions are dangerous—wind stays under 10 knots all day—but because the ocean current pushes 0.5 meters per second due west, which can complicate a paddler's return leg if you're not paying attention. Sailing and boating both sit in the 7s, buoyed by the light, steady wind and clear skies (just 10% cloud cover), but the afternoon gusts to nearly 17 knots at 8 p.m. could surprise anyone out late. Compared to yesterday, today is a slight step down for diving (from 8.7) and boating (from 8.6), but a significant improvement for wildlife viewing, which jumped from 7.3 to 8.4—likely thanks to lighter wind and the midday solunar period. The big warm-water anomaly persists, which has kept diver scores in the 8s for five straight days now, unusual for late August. Looking ahead, the next few days hold steady with similar wave heights and light winds through Sunday, and no rain in sight until Tuesday's 46% chance, which also brings the first real swell bump to 2.3 meters. If you want glassy conditions for a dive or a paddle, tomorrow and Saturday look even better for wind, with peak gusts below 15 knots. Best bet: charge the midday solunar window with a mask and fins—that warm, clear, calm water is a rare late-summer gift you don't want to waste.