CatchWindow fishing intelligence

Rockport, TX Daily Water Report — August 28, 2026

Boating takes the top spot today with an 8.8 out of 10, and for good reason. The southeast wind holds steady around 5 knots through the morning and early afternoon, the Gulf lays out a gentle 0.22-meter swell, and there isn’t a cloud in the sky. That’s the window right there—slip the lines after dawn and you’ll find flat water under full sun. By late afternoon, the breeze kicks up to 12 knots and waves inch toward 0.4 meters, which still qualifies as an easy day but loses that glassy feel. Kayaking and diving both score just shy of 8, another strong endorsement for getting out early. The calmest conditions arrive near 10:00, when the wave height hits its minimum, making that the sweet spot for paddlers and anyone looking to drop below the surface. Fishing sits at 6.5, a solid but not spectacular number. The full moon exerts strong tidal range despite the small absolute swing—low tide was just after 1 a.m., and the afternoon high barely tops 0.13 meters. That compressed tidal exchange, combined with stable high pressure at 1017 hPa and zero rain chance, gives you a predictable, low-current day on the water. The solunar major period falls from 12:31 to 2:31, which aligns with the high tide push. It’s not a red-hot bite, but it’s a reliable one, especially if you target the tide change from the midday slack. Wildlife observation scores the same 6.5; the full moon and light wind help, but the low tidal movement limits exposed shoreline foraging. Surfing remains a 4.5 and that’s not budging. The wave period is a short 3.2 seconds with a 0.18-meter south-southeast swell—barely enough shape for a log. If the conditions shift significantly over the next few days, the marine forecast shows waves staying in the 0.2-to-0.4-meter range through Tuesday, with a slight uptick in swell by the weekend. Wind stays moderate. Today, it’s a skip for surfers. Compared to the past week, today feels like a reset. Yesterday’s 10-knot wind leaned toward sailing; today the breeze is lighter and more consistent, which drops the sailing score slightly to 6.7 but improves the boating and kayaking outlook. The water temperature holds near 30.5 degrees Celsius, a touch cooler than the seasonal average but still bathwater-warm. The coming days bring a modest increase in wind, with Saturday and Sunday pushing gusts into the mid-teens. Waves stay in that sub-half-meter range, so conditions won’t deteriorate sharply, but the morning window will shrink. Make the most of Friday’s calm—this is probably the quietest stretch you’ll see until midweek. Best bet: hit the water by 9 a.m. with the tide rising under a full moon and a southeast breeze so light you’ll forget it’s there.