Cactus Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what the next couple of weeks have in store for us at Cactus. We’ve got a proper swell window opening up, but it’s gonna be a game of patience. We start off with a decent pulse, then it gets wild and messy for a stretch, before cleaning right up for some promising sessions further out. The water temp is sitting at 60°F, which is pretty much spot on for this time of year, so nothing crazy there.

The first real chance to get wet is Thursday afternoon (the 6th). We're looking at a clean 5ft SW groundswell with a long 16-second period. The wind is a light cross-off, which is going to keep the face of Cactus nice and smooth. The energy reading is a moderate 1018, so there’s some push behind it, but it's not a beast. This is a solid opener for anyone who knows the reef.

Friday the 7th is a bit of a mixed bag. The morning is blown out with a strong N wind, so I’d skip that. But Friday afternoon settles down to a 5ft SW swell with a slightly longer 17-second period. The energy picks up a touch to 1256, and with a gentle cross-off breeze, it’s looking clean again. This is another good window for the experienced crew.

Saturday the 8th starts with some questionable conditions in the morning, but by the afternoon, it's done. The wind swings onshore and that’s that for the day. Sunday the 9th is a write-off – a big 10ft SW swell arrives, but it’s getting smashed by near gale-force onshore winds. That’s not surfable, that’s just a washing machine. The energy is strong at 1662 and 2937, but it's all for nothing.

Monday the 10th and Tuesday the 11th are also in the bin. We’ve got a solid SW groundswell, but the wind is howling from the west and northwest, creating lumpy, choppy chaos. There’s plenty of water moving, with energy readings in the 2160 to 3455 range, but it’s just not clean enough for Cactus. This is the start of a rough patch.

Wednesday the 12th sees the swell peak, with 10ft on the face and very strong energy readings of 4776 and 5152. But again, it’s all onshore wind. This is big, raw power, but it’s dangerous and messy. Not a day for a paddle. Honestly, this stretch from the 9th through the 12th looks more interesting for kite surfing than for a surfboard – the waves are there, but the wind is just going to ruin any chance of a clean wave.

Thursday the 13th and Friday the 14th are all marginal. The swell drops back to the 7ft range, but the winds are still cross-onshore and choppy. It’s not great, and only for the keenest who don’t mind a battle. The periods are still long, in the 15 to 17-second range, so there’s some quality in the water, just not at the surface.

Now, here’s where things get interesting. Saturday the 15th is a standout. The morning looks excellent. We’ve got a 6ft SW swell, chunky enough to have some fun, with a 16-second period. And the wind has finally swung around to a gentle offshore from the east. That’s the recipe for clean, glassy lines at the reef. The energy is moderate at 1654, but with the offshore wind, this is the best this spot has looked in days. This is a morning session to put in the diary.

Sunday the 16th is also good, with the swell easing a touch to 4ft but the period holding at 15 seconds. A light offshore wind will keep it clean. It’s a smaller, more relaxed day, but still fun. Then, looking further out, there’s a promising little pulse for Tuesday the 18th in the afternoon. A tidy 4ft SW swell with a long 18-second period, combined with light offshore winds. It's smaller, but the long period suggests some nice shape.

That’s about it for the real standouts though. A lot of the second week is just average, with smaller swells and cross-shore winds doing their best to mess things up. The week starting the 19th gets a bit messy again with onshores and cross-shore winds, so I wouldn't get too excited about it.

So, to sum it up: the best waves on offer are this coming Saturday morning (the 15th) and Sunday morning (the 16th). They’re not huge, but they’re clean and have good energy. The earlier windows on Thursday and Friday afternoons are also worth a look. Just be prepared for that rough, windy stretch in the middle. It’s all about picking your moments.

Keep it salty.

Rusty

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