Cactus Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty, and I’m looking at what’s on the menu for Cactus.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a solid run of surf coming in. The swell’s showing up from the southwest, and that’s exactly what this reef needs. The first few days are a bit of a mixed bag, but we’re looking at some real standouts if you pick your windows right.

The real action kicks off on Friday morning, July 24th. We’ve got a solid 6ft SW swell running with a long 15-second period – that’s proper groundswell, lots of energy (1314). The wind is a light cross-offshore from the southeast, keeping it clean. This is excellent condition for experienced surfers. It’s a touch on the bigger side, so not for the groms, but for anyone who’s been around, this is a juicy window.

Saturday morning, July 25th, is a real treat. The swell drops to 4ft, but the wind goes glassy. Dead calm. That’s a rare gift. The swell direction is still perfect from the southwest, and the period is a solid 13 seconds. It’s a smaller morning, but with zero wind, the waves will be silky smooth. This is a standout for pure quality.

We’ve got a bit of a lull mid-week, with some choppy afternoons and onshore winds, but don’t write it off. The following week holds some gems. Thursday morning, July 30th, is another cracker – offshore wind from the east, 5ft swell, and clean conditions. The energy is strong (953). Then, on Friday afternoon, July 31st, we get a monster of a long period swell at 19 seconds, 4ft, with a clean cross-offshore breeze. That’s a very long period groundswell, and it’ll be peeling down the reef. That’s a standout for the pure energy and shape.

Heading into August, we’ve got bigger pulses. Saturday afternoon, August 1st, is for the experienced crew – 7ft of SW swell with an 18-second period, could be a bit much for the average punter. The next big one is Monday morning, August 3rd, with 7ft and a 16-second period, with a light offshore wind. That’s a serious, powerful swell. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, so no wetsuit surprises.

The crowds here can be a factor sometimes, so keep that in mind, especially on the glassy mornings.

The second week thins out a bit. There’s a good window on Thursday morning, August 6th, with a 5ft SW swell and clean conditions, but after that, the wind turns onshore and the swell fades. By the second weekend, it’s a washout, with onshore winds and small, poor surf.

So, to sum it up: the best of the best is Saturday morning, July 25th, for the glassy, clean conditions, and Friday afternoon, July 31st, for the spectacular long-period groundswell. Get on it.

Rusty.

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