CatchWindow fishing intelligence

Friday Harbor, WA Daily Water Report — October 4, 2026

Friday Harbor gets a clear green light for low-exposure water time today, with boating the standout at 9.2/10 and kayaking close behind at 8.7/10. This is a notably gentle marine setup: winds run only 1.4–5.9 knots, waves stay between flat and 0.2 m, and the calmest water is forecast near 1 PM at just 0.02 m. Rain is not indicated, pressure is steady near 1017 hPa, and the air should climb from a cool 10.3 C to 18.6 C. The best all-around window is late morning through the early-afternoon high tide. The 2.35 m high arrives at 2:34 PM, while the water should be at its flattest around 1 PM. That combination favors easygoing boat and paddle plans, though the 13.7 C sea surface temperature remains firmly cold-water territory; calm water is not warm water, so dress and plan accordingly. A light south wind and tiny 0.1 m swell offer little help to sailors, reflected in a merely decent 6.2/10 sailing score rather than a banner wind day. Anglers have a solid 7.4/10 outlook, with the morning solunar major period from 7:10–9:10 AM lining up just after sunrise and the evening major period from 7:10–9:10 PM extending beyond sunset. The afternoon high tide and 1:40–2:40 PM minor period provide another reasonable option. Chlorophyll is reported high at 2.58 mg/m³, but that is not a direct observation of fish activity. Diving rates 8/10 under the light wind and low-wave forecast; atmospheric visibility of 14.5 km should not be mistaken for underwater visibility. For shoreline explorers and wildlife watchers, the -0.22 m low at 5:27 AM is the tide to work around, but it arrives before sunrise; dawn begins at 6:44 AM, so use extra care with footing and light. The current forecast is about 0.28 m/s toward 158°, another reminder that glassy-looking water can still be moving. Compared with the recent reconstructed history, boating improves from yesterday’s 8.9 and kayaking rebounds from 8.0, while fishing is better than yesterday but matches October 1. The next four days remain mostly dry and light-wind, with especially flat seas forecast Tuesday and Wednesday; conditions turn less placid Friday as winds rise to 14.5 knots and waves reach 0.4–0.6 m. Best bet: launch late morning, enjoy the near-flat early-afternoon water, and be back with warm layers before the evening chill takes over.