Cartagena - Jetty Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let's be straight with you – this stretch of coast is looking pretty grim for the next couple of weeks. I've scanned the charts and the models, and honestly, there's just nothing on the table that's going to get the heart racing. It’s a tough pill to swallow, but that’s the reality of it. We’re looking at a long, flat spell with only the faintest whisper of a wave at the tail end of the forecast.

We're talking about Cartagena - Jetty here (Cartagena). It's an inconsistent spot at the best of times, and this stretch is a prime example of why. There's a big gap of nothing from now, right through to the middle of next week. Day after day of clean-looking mornings with light or offshore winds, but with zero swell to show for it. All that glassy water and no juice. It’s enough to make a guy want to take up golf.

The first bit of energy we see is on Friday the 7th, but it's hardly a pulse. A tiny 3ft of swell out of the NNE with a short 9-second period, coming in with a light onshore breeze. The combined energy is weak, registering just 106. It’s not going to be surfable, and it looks like the jetty will be doing its best to block most of it anyway. We’ll call it a non-event.

Then, the wait continues. Another big stretch of nothing from the 8th through to the 12th. A few of those mornings are dead glassy, with the 8th being completely clear and calm, but there’s just no ocean movement. Saturday the 8th morning is the pick of the bunch for a paddle, but if you want to ride a wave, you're out of luck.

Things start to look slightly less pathetic around the 13th of August. We’ve got a slightly better pulse of swell, but it’s still a far cry from good. On the 13th, we’re looking at 4ft of north swell with that same short 9-second period. The combined energy jumps up to a modest 207, so it's at least a bit more substantial. But with a light onshore wind forecast, it will probably be a mess. The Jetty’s got a sheltered exposure, so maybe it will pick up a bit of that north energy, but the short period means it just won’t have any push. This isn’t the day to get excited about.

And after that glimmer of hope on the 13th, it’s straight back to zero. From the 14th all the way through the end of the forecast on the 20th, we're looking at a complete desert. Zilch. Nada. The only waves we see are a pathetic 0.3ft on the 18th, which is less of a wave and more of a ripple, registering an energy of just 2. That’s not surf, that’s just the lake breathing.

To be honest, the setup looks more interesting for a kite surfer on some of those breezy afternoons than for anyone with a paddle in their hand. The north winds that are due to kick in from the weekend onwards are cross or onshore, and with no swell to groom, it's just going to be choppy, blown-out water.

The water temp is sitting at a normal 86° for the time of year, so at least when you’re floating around on your board wondering why you came out, you won’t be cold.

Look, this is a proper blank run. It’s not unusual for this area to go quiet, but seeing 16 days of essentially nothing is tough. Forecasts can change, though. Storms can develop, and swells can get redirected. I’m keeping an eye on that period around the 13th, but honestly, don't hold your breath. When there’s nothing else, the Jetty might just be the spot to sit and watch the sun go down.

Rusty, signing off.

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