Apache Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, it’s Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you—this 16-day stretch for Apache Pier is a real tough one. We’re looking at a long, drawn-out period of mostly small, wind-affected surf with very little to get excited about. The first real run of any interest doesn’t show up until nearly a week in, but even then, it’s nothing to write home about.

The water temperature is sitting pretty at 84°, which is about 1° warmer than usual for this time of year—nothing crazy, just a touch of that summer warmth that makes the wait for decent waves a little more bearable.

The first few days, from Friday the 17th right through to the end of the following week, are a write-off. We’re talking flat to tiny, messy swell with onshore or cross-shore winds making a mess of things. The energy is weak, with combined swell readings barely cracking 100 (often sitting in the 5 to 93 range). It’s the kind of stuff that’s more for a paddle than a ride.

The first flicker of something slightly better shows up on Thursday the 23rd morning. The wind finally swings to a cross-offshore from the NNE, cleaning things up. But the swell is a paltry 3 ft from the south, with a period of just 7 seconds. It’s clean, but small and weak. The combined energy is only 79. It’s a “maybe” session for the desperate.

Then, around Friday the 24th afternoon, we get a little window. The wind goes glassy – dead calm from the east at 6 mph. The swell is a tiny 2 ft from the southeast, but with an 8-second period, it’s at least a little more organised. The combined energy is a still-unimpressive 73. The wave comment calls it “surfable but very ordinary.” That’s about as good as it gets for a while.

Saturday the 25th afternoon sees another glassy moment, with a 4 ft south swell, but again, it’s weak and short-period (6 seconds). Energy is 92. Clean, but tiny.

The only real stand-out, if you can call it that, is the morning of Sunday the 26th. We get a 4 ft swell from the SSW, with a 6-second period, and a clean cross-offshore wind from the NNE. The combined energy bumps up to 154, which is at least moderate. It’s the biggest, cleanest option in the whole 16 days, but it’s still a small, short-period wave. It’s the best of a bad lot.

Then we’re back into the doldrums. Small, onshore, choppy. The very end of the forecast, on Saturday the 1st of August, shows a tiny 2 ft wave with a clean offshore wind from the WNW, but it’s a drop in the bucket.

So, what’s the verdict? There’s no standout, no pumping session. The closest to a “go” window is the Sunday the 26th morning, or maybe the glassy Friday afternoon on the 24th. But honestly, this is a case of leaving the board in the car and checking the forecast again. The consistency is hard to find, and the quality is low. It’s a quiet run for Apache Pier, but it’s not unusual for this area. The forecasts can change, so don’t lose hope entirely.

Rusty.

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