CatchWindow fishing intelligence

Windmill Point, VA Daily Water Report — August 23, 2026

Windmill Point is a boat-and-paddle day first. Boating leads at 8.8 out of 10 on light wind, nearly flat water, a weak current, and a dry, clear sky; kayaking sits close behind at 7.8 for the same reasons. Diving, wildlife, and sailing land in the low-to-mid 7s. Fishing is only a 5.4 and surfing a 4.5 — scores, not safety stamps — and the same small, short-period sea that makes the water easy to work will not stand up a ride. Forecast and current conditions point to south-southwest flow around 6 knots, ranging 1.5 to 8.2, with the day’s strongest gust already on the clock at 15.6 knots around midnight. Air should run 20.4 to 28.5 C under zero cloud and no rain, pressure 1014 hPa and still rising. Waves stay a skin, 0.1 meter all day and calmest near 15:00 at 0.08 meter, period a little over 3 seconds; swell is a whisper from the southeast. Ocean current is about 0.2 m/s toward the south. Water is warm: SST 27.4 C, a degree above average, with the marine reading near 29. Surface chlorophyll is very high at 5.11 mg/m3, bloom conditions — useful for water color, not a wildlife or fish call. Atmospheric visibility is about 38 km; that is air, not what you will see underwater. Tide data are unavailable, so leave stage and tidal current out of the plan. Afternoon is the cleanest window for boats and kayaks when the sea is at its minimum. If you still want a rod out, the morning solunar major from 07:09 to 09:09 is the daylight slot; the evening major after 19:09 falls after the 18:50 sunset under a waxing gibbous moon, 76 percent lit and rising at 16:18. Light air will bore anyone who came to sail hard, even with a 7.1 sailing score built on consistency, tiny waves, and clear sky. Yesterday was the same 8.8 boat day with even lighter wind near 4 knots; sailing has improved from 6.2 and wildlife from 6.2, fishing slipped a tick. Monday and Tuesday stay warm, peak winds 10 to 12 knots, almost no rain, waves still under half a meter. Wednesday the breeze builds toward 14 knots with a bit more chop; Thursday and Friday pick up roughly a 40 percent rain chance before winds ease again late week. Best bet: take the midafternoon calm and go boating — the water is as small as it gets, and it will not stay this polite all week.