Cactus Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty comin' at ya from the sands. Let's get into it.

We've got a bit of a frustrating run ahead on the horizon, but there are definitely some windows of opportunity if you're patient. The first few days are a write-off with strong onshore winds and messy conditions, so don't bother paddling out until we get past that. There's a solid chunk of time from the 10th to the 14th where the surf is just too blown out to be any fun, with strong winds and lumpy, choppy conditions. The swell energy is there but it's a complete mess.

Thursday the 10th of July is where it starts to get interesting. The standout, and the best bet this week, is Cactus early. You've got a clean 4ft SW groundswell from a solid 15 second period pushing in, and the wind is a light, cross-off breeze from the NNW. The combined wave energy is moderate (606), and the water temp is sittin' at 61°, which is about normal for this time of year. This is a quality, clean session for an intermediate surfer. The reef break loves that long-period SW groundswell.

The next real highlight is further out, on Wednesday the 15th of July. Another morning session at Cactus is calling. The swell is a bit bigger, 6ft from the SW with a 15-second period, and the wind is offshore from the ENE. That's a recipe for some clean, lined-up waves. The energy is strong (1381), and it's marked as excellent for experienced surfers. This is the one to circle on the calendar.

After that, it's a bit of a mixed bag. There are some clean mornings on the 16th, 17th, and 18th with smaller waves around 3ft to 5ft, but the wind is cross-off, keeping it tidy. The energy drops back to moderate levels. Then we get another burst of messy wind on the 19th.

Jumping into the final week, Monday the 20th of July is a real treat. Early morning at Cactus is looking glassy with a light ESE breeze – that's a 3 mph zephyr, so the surface will be like a mirror. You've got a 6ft SW groundswell with a 16-second period, delivering strong energy (1852). This is excellent for experienced surfers on a point or reef. With the wind being glassy, this is the best session of the whole outlook.

The very end of the forecast, on Friday the 24th of July, sees a big pulse of swell. We're looking at 10ft of SW groundswell, but the wind is cross-off from the SE. The energy is very strong (5330), and the period is 13 seconds. This is big, powerful stuff. Only for experts, and only if the wind plays ball. The scoring is marginal, but the potential is there for a big one.

So, to sum it up: the next few days are a no-go. The best windows are Wednesday the 15th and Monday the 20th of July. The 20th is the absolute top pick with that glassy morning. The 24th is a big-wave gamble for the pros.

Rusty.

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