Aja Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get this straight. This is a tough run for Aja. There's no surf to speak of for the first week. The first real chance of anything worth paddling out for doesn't show up until Wednesday, August 5th.

From Tuesday, July 28th, right through to Tuesday, August 4th, it's a complete blank. The water temp is about 85° – that's pretty normal for this time of year, but with no waves, it's just a flat, warm bath.

The first sign of life comes on Wednesday, August 5th. We get a pulse of easterly groundswell – a solid 7ft to 8ft, with a long period of 18 to 19 seconds. That's a lot of energy coming in (combined energy of 3137 to 4151). This is a reef break, so that long period, powerful swell could set up some nice lines. The problem is the wind. It's a moderate, cross-onshore breeze from the north, which is going to mess up the surface and make it choppy. The strong energy and the long period mean the waves will have plenty of power, but the wind is a real buzzkill. It's borderline, only for the experienced.

Thursday, August 6th, is a write-off. The swell is even bigger – 12ft with a 19-second period, and the energy is massive (7049 to 9257). But the wind is blowing straight onshore from the northwest at 12 to 16 mph. That's a full-on washing machine. This is strictly for the experts, and even then, it's going to be a battle. For anyone else, this is a kite-surfing setup, not a paddle-surfing one.

Friday, August 7th is ugly. The wind howls from the northwest at 25 to 28 mph, with a sloppy, short-period windswell from the WNW. The water is going to be a chaotic mess. Stay on the beach.

Saturday, August 8th brings a shift in the swell direction to the northwest, but it's still a strong cross-onshore wind from the west. The energy is still high (1417 to 1999), but it's messy.

The real standout, the best on offer, is Sunday, August 9th. The swell drops to around 5ft to 5ft from the northwest, with a 12-second period and a combined energy of 624 to 817. The wind finally plays ball. It turns light and cross-offshore from the south-west to south-southwest. That's the magic combination. The waves will be clean, with a bit of shape, and the wind will be light. It's not huge, but it's surfable and fun. Crowds are possible here, so get there early.

Monday, August 10th, is also a good one. The swell is a bit smaller, around 3ft to 4ft from the northwest, with a 12 to 14-second period. The wind is light and cross-offshore from the east-southeast. Clean, glassy conditions. It's a bit smaller than Sunday, but the quality is still there.

After that, the swell fades. Tuesday, August 11th, has small, clean waves (2ft to 3ft), but by Wednesday, August 12th, it's all over. The waves drop to 2ft and then flat again.

So, to sum it up: The first week is a total dud. The second week has a few days of big, wind-affected swell, but the real winner is that Sunday, August 9th. It's the only window where you get decent size and clean conditions. Don't sleep on it.

Rusty

Read more