CatchWindow fishing intelligence

Port Townsend, WA Daily Water Report — October 6, 2026

Port Townsend gets a strong green light for boating and kayaking, with fishing and shoreline exploring also well supported—provided you dress for a cold, damp-feeling day and don’t mistake gentle water for warm water. The marine forecast is notably quiet: representative waves are just 0.04 m, with a tiny 0.04 m swell from the west-northwest and light northwest wind around 5 knots. Waves ease back to about 0.04 m near 8 PM, though the whole day is close to glassy by coastal standards. The best all-around window is late morning through the afternoon high tide. The 2.59 m high at 2:56 PM gives boaters and paddlers more water than the 0.09 m low at 6:56 AM, while winds remain in the light 4.4–8.1 knot range. Boating and kayaking both rate 8.4/10, helped by low waves, modest current—about 0.11 m/s toward 243 degrees—and no rain indicated. The catch is the air: 10–13.5 C, saturated humidity, full cloud cover, and a feels-like temperature near 10 C will make stationary time feel considerably chillier than the wind numbers suggest. Fishing rates 7.8/10, a modest improvement over the reconstructed 7.6 score from October 5. Stable pressure near 1021 hPa, light wind, the afternoon tide, and the 8:58–10:58 AM solunar major period make morning the cleanest fishing play; the 8:58–10:58 PM major period arrives after sunset, so it is a lower-visibility option. Wildlife scores 8.8/10, with the early low tide and light winds offering the strongest conditions for shoreline exploration. That score reflects solunar timing, low-tide proximity, and wind—not a guarantee of sightings. Sailing is the compromise activity at 5.9/10. The water is cooperative, but the breeze is not likely to provide much working canvas; yesterday’s reconstructed sailing score was far higher at 9.4 despite stronger wind. Diving has no usable score today, so there is no basis here to recommend it. Wednesday stays exceptionally calm, then conditions build Thursday and turn substantially rougher Friday, when waves may reach 1.4 m and winds peak near 15.5 knots. Best bet: launch after the morning low, enjoy the afternoon high tide, and bring the warm layer you will swear you did not need at the dock.