Pond Man’s Cape May Marine Forecast

## Thursday, October 29, 2026

### Overall verdict: **CAUTION**

Patchy early fog with visibility potentially reduced to **1–3 nautical miles** is today’s main hazard. Conditions become more favorable after the fog clears, with light winds and manageable seas. Confirm visibility along your entire route before leaving protected water. 

### Marine outlook

- **Atlantic coastal waters — ANZ453:** **Yellow.** Southeast wind around 5 knots, becoming south this afternoon. Seas around **2 feet**, with an east swell of **2 feet at 8 seconds**. Patchy morning fog; visibility **1–3 NM**.

- **Lower Delaware Bay — ANZ431:** **Yellow.** Southeast wind around 5 knots, becoming south this afternoon. Seas **1–2 feet**, with southeast waves around **1 foot at 7 seconds**. Patchy morning fog; visibility **1–3 NM**.

- **Avalon and Stone Harbor back bays:** **Yellow early.** Light winds, but localized fog may restrict navigation. No official zone-specific wave height is published. Chop varies with fetch and wind against tide.

- **Maurice River and sheltered inland waters:** **Green after fog clears.** Generally protected with light wind. Expect locally rougher water near exposed reaches, river mouths and opposing current.

- **Active advisories:** No active marine advisories for ANZ431 or ANZ453 as of approximately **4:04 AM EDT**. Recheck before departure.

### Conditions and observations

- **Cape May Airport, 3:45 AM:** Clear, **48°F**, calm wind, approximately **10 miles visibility**.
- **Cape May water temperature:** Approximately **61°F**, based on the latest CMAN4 observation.
- **Safest daylight window:** Approximately **9:30 AM–4:30 PM**, after confirming that fog has cleared across the planned route.
- **VHF:** Monitor **Channel 16**. Use navigation lights, reduce speed and sound the required fog signals whenever visibility is restricted.

### Cape May Harbor tides

**NOAA station 8535901 — heights referenced to MLLW**

| Tide | Time | Height |
|---|---:|---:|
| Low | 4:04 AM | 0.06 ft |
| High | 10:45 AM | 6.00 ft |
| Low | 5:11 PM | 0.15 ft |
| High | 11:22 PM | 4.26 ft |

### Sun and moon

- **Sunrise:** 7:23 AM
- **Sunset:** 6:02 PM
- **Daylight:** 10 hours 39 minutes
- **Moon:** Waning gibbous, approximately 87% illuminated
- **Moonset:** 11:39 AM
- **Moonrise:** 8:42 PM 

### Captain’s Tip

Fog can vary mile by mile. Run navigation lights, slow down, use sound signals when required and confirm the inlet is clear before leaving protected water.

**DAILY CAST:** *Let the fog lift; the fish will still be there.*

### Live official sources

- NWS Atlantic coastal forecast — ANZ453: https://marine.weather.gov/MapClick.php?zoneid=ANZ453
- NWS Lower Delaware Bay forecast — ANZ431: https://marine.weather.gov/MapClick.php?zoneid=ANZ431
- NWS Cape May forecast: https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=38.9351&lon=-74.906
- NOAA Cape May Harbor tides — station 8535901: https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/noaatidepredictions.html?id=8535901
- NDBC Cape May station CMAN4: https://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=cman4
- NDBC Delaware Bay buoy 44009: https://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=44009

Recheck NOAA/NWS forecasts, advisories, visibility and real-time observations immediately before departure.

**Jim’s Bait & Tackle — (609) 884-3900**  
**Hands Too Bait & Tackle — (609) 884-2248**

*Safe travels. Tight lines. Make memories. God bless.*