Best time to fish in Wainwright
Today, Wednesday, October 28, 2026 · local time (AKDT) · Alaska, United States Today, Wed, Oct 28 · AKDT- Major periods
- 3:30–5:30 am and 4:02–6:02 pm
- Minor periods
- —
- Solunar activity
- High
- Sun
- 11:00 am–5:47 pm
Today, Wednesday, October 28, the best time to fish in Wainwright is 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm, with a major period, sunset and some swell, though with moderate wind. It's a great day (9/10). The best day this week is Thursday, October 29, at 9/10.
The tide barely moves in Wainwright, so it doesn't count in the rating: here the solunar periods, the light and the weather (above all wind and waves) matter most.
Your day in Wainwright at a glance
The strip runs from midnight to midnight, local time. Night in gray, daylight in yellow; below, the solunar periods and the best windows.
Fishing forecast for the next 7 days
| Day | Rating | Best times | Moon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Today | 9great day | 4:00–5:30 pm10:30 am–1:30 pm | Waning gibbous |
| Thu 29 | 9great day | 5:10–7:00 pm | Waning gibbous |
| Fri 30 | 8good day | 6:10–6:50 pm5:40–7:40 am | Waning gibbous |
| Sat 31 | 4fair day | 6:40–8:40 am11:30 am–12:20 pm | Waning gibbous |
| Sun 1 | 3fair day | 7:00–9:00 pm10:30–11:20 am | Last quarter |
| Mon 2 | 5average day | 4:50–5:40 pm | Waning crescent |
| Tue 3 | 6average day | 4:20–5:20 pm9:10–10:20 am | Waning crescent |
Each day's rating comes from the solunar periods, the light and, when we have the forecast, the weather (the tide doesn't count here).
Piers, ramps and tackle shops nearby
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
Within 9.3 mi. A spot may be missing or closed. Open the map on OpenStreetMap · Missing one? Add it to OpenStreetMap
Spots: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Overture Maps.
How we work out the best time
We score every moment of the day, every 10 minutes, with simple rules anglers have used for decades:
- Solunar: 2.5 points in the major periods (moon overhead or underfoot) and 1.5 in the minor ones (moonrise and moonset).
- Light: 2 points at dawn and dusk, from first light to the end of the morning golden hour and from the evening golden hour to the end of twilight.
- Weather: falling pressure adds 1 point and rising pressure takes 1 away; wind takes points away from force 4 (about 12 mph), up to 5 points in a gale; waves of 1.6 ft to 4.9 ft add half a point (they stir up the water) and from 8.2 ft they take points away (up to 4).
- Best windows: the stretches of 40 minutes to 3 hours with the most points, at least an hour apart.
- Day's rating out of 10: the best window (up to 5), the moon (up to 2, near new or full moon), the tide coefficient (up to 2) and whether a solunar period lines up with sunrise or sunset (1). Without a tide, we score out of 8 and scale it to 10. Good weather adds up to 1 point and bad weather pulls it down.
Today: best window 5 of 5, moon 1 of 2 and lineup 1 of 1; the weather multiplies the rating by 0.97.
It's a guide, not a guarantee: fish don't read tide tables. Always check the sea conditions and local fishing rules before you go.
Learn more
Fishing rules in Wainwright
Licenses, size limits, bag limits and closed seasons are set by the authorities and change often. We don't copy them here: check the official website before you go.
Questions about fishing in Wainwright
What's the best time to fish in Wainwright today?
4:00 pm to 5:30 pm, with a major period, sunset and some swell, though with moderate wind. Also 10:30 am to 1:30 pm and 3:30 am to 5:30 am. Today's rating: 9/10 (great day).
What about tomorrow? When's the best time to fish in Wainwright?
Tomorrow, Thursday, October 29: 5:10 pm to 7:00 pm, with a rating of 9/10.
Which day this week is best for fishing in Wainwright?
Thursday, October 29, at 9/10. Its best window is 5:10 pm to 7:00 pm.
When are the solunar periods in Wainwright today?
Major: 3:30–5:30 am and 4:02–6:02 pm. Solunar activity today: high.
Does the tide affect fishing in Wainwright?
Very little here: the tide barely moves in Wainwright, so it doesn't count in the rating. Wind, waves and light matter more: dawn and dusk tend to fish best.
How is the rating worked out?
From the solunar periods, the light at dawn and dusk, the moon phase and, when we have the forecast, the pressure, the wind and the waves. Each factor gives a fixed number of points and the rating sums them up out of 10. The tide doesn't count here: without it, we score out of 8 and scale it to 10.
Does it take the weather into account?
Yes. During today's best window: pressure dropping fast (−0.36 inHg in 24 h): bad weather on the way, moderate offshore wind (17 mph) and some swell (2.1 ft waves) to stir the water. Strong wind and big waves lower the rating; falling pressure raises it a little.
What are the fishing rules in Wainwright?
Recreational fishing rules in Wainwright (licenses, size limits, bag limits and closed seasons) are set by the authorities: Alaska Department of Fish and Game; offshore, NOAA Fisheries. They change often: check the official website before you go.
More about Wainwright today
Our own calculation: sun and moon with astronomy-engine and, when available, weather and sea from Open-Meteo (ECMWF, NOAA GFS and Copernicus Marine, CC BY 4.0).