CatchWindow fishing intelligence

Friday Harbor, WA Daily Water Report — October 7, 2026

Friday Harbor gets an emphatic go for small craft and human-powered water time: this is a remarkably flat, dry, light-wind day, with boating at 9.5/10 and kayaking at 9.1/10. The catch is simple—bring propulsion. Southwest wind stays mostly gentle, ranging 0.3 to 5.6 knots, while waves are effectively absent in the marine forecast. That makes for easy handling, but not much help for sailors; sailing earns 6.2/10 because the breeze is more decorative than useful. The most comfortable daylight stretch runs from after dawn through the afternoon, with clear skies, no rain indicated, and air temperatures climbing from a cool 8.8 C toward 16.3 C. Atmospheric visibility is forecast near 14.7 km, useful for above-water navigation but not a promise of underwater visibility. Water remains chilly at about 14 C, so paddlers and divers should dress for immersion, not for the pleasant afternoon air. For anglers, the 6.7/10 fishing outlook is decent rather than exceptional. The strongest timing is the late-morning solunar major period, 9:47 AM to 11:47 AM, following the 8:41 AM low tide; a second major period arrives 9:47 PM to 11:47 PM, after dark. The larger daytime tide rises to 2.30 m at 4:12 PM, then falls toward the 10:10 PM low. Pressure is falling from around 1019 hPa, and the late-morning gust peak reaches 8.4 knots around 11 AM, though conditions remain generally mild. Diving rates 8.1/10, supported by light wind, negligible waves and mild water for the season, but the water is still cold enough to make exposure management the important part of the plan. The reported chlorophyll is high, but that is not a direct read on fish, wildlife, or underwater clarity. Wildlife scores 7/10, with the 4:17–5:17 PM minor solunar period lining up near the afternoon high tide. Compared with the recent run, boating improves from yesterday’s 8.7, while fishing and wildlife ease back from yesterday’s stronger scores. The calm pattern loosens Thursday and Friday as winds reach about 10 knots and seas build as high as 0.7 m; Sunday looks drier again, and Monday currently appears notably quiet. Best bet: launch after sunrise, enjoy the glassy afternoon rise to the 4:12 PM high, and let the boat—not the wind—do the work.