Cactus Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s talk about Cactus, a reef setup that’s got a solid window coming up. The water temperature is 59°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so nothing unusual there.

The next few days are a bit of a mixed bag. Wednesday afternoon is a write-off – cross-on wind, choppy, and the combined swell energy is 1142, which is moderate, but it's messy. Not worth paddling out.

The first real standout is Thursday morning, 20th August. Glass. Wind is WSW at just 3 mph, basically nothing. The swell is 3 ft from the SW with a long 16-second period – that’s quality groundswell. The energy is moderate at 515, but with that glassy surface, it’s going to be clean. Cactus is a reef, so that long period will wrap in nicely. This is the pick of the early period.

Conditions get a bit lumpy again Thursday afternoon and all through Friday, with cross-on winds and choppy surf. The swell is bigger, around 5 ft, but the wind spoils it.

Saturday morning, 22nd August, is a beauty. Clean offshore wind from the ENE at 6 mph, swell 5 ft from the SW, 15-second period. The energy is strong at 1286. This is solid, powerful surf, and with offshore wind, it’ll be well shaped. It’s bigger than 5 ft, so it’s more for experienced surfers, but the quality is top notch. Saturday afternoon stays clean with a cross-off breeze.

Sunday morning, 23rd August, has a cross-off breeze and a 5 ft SW swell, but the real gem is Sunday afternoon – glassy again, no wind, swell 4 ft from the SW with a 17-second period. That’s very long period groundswell, and on a reef, it’s going to be pure and lined up. The energy is 897, moderate. This is a session you’ll remember.

The second week runs a bit hotter and colder. Monday 24th and Tuesday 25th are mostly cross-shore chop and messy. Wednesday 26th morning has a clean cross-off breeze and 4 ft swell, but it’s inconsistent. The 12-second period is okay, but the energy is low at 543. Thursday 27th morning is blown out by a strong 19 mph north wind, but Thursday afternoon gets interesting – a 5 ft SW swell with a very long 19-second period, energy at 1789. That’s strong, but the wind is cross-shore, so it’ll be a bit bumpy.

Friday 28th morning has a 7 ft SW swell – that’s expert territory – with a cross-off breeze and 16-second period, energy at 1953. It’s powerful, but only for the experienced crew. Saturday 29th sees offshore wind from the NE, but it’s strong at 25 mph, making it hard to paddle into. Sunday 30th through to the end of the window is a downward slide – poor conditions, onshore winds, and small swell.

So, the true standouts are Thursday morning 20th August for the glassy, clean 3 ft groundswell, and Sunday afternoon 23rd August for the glassy, long-period 4 ft swell. Saturday morning 22nd is also wicked if you’ve got the skill for the size.

– Rusty

Read more