Caspar Creek Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you: the next couple of weeks are looking pretty dismal for any real surf. We’ve got a long stretch of not much to get excited about, so if you’re jonesing for a wave, you might want to find another hobby for a bit.

Right off the bat, the outlook is poor. We're looking at a gap of several days with absolutely nothing worth paddling out for. The first few days are a total write-off. Friday afternoon kicks things off with a weak and messy 6ft of windblown slop, cross-onshore breeze, and a combined energy of just 320. It’s choppy and confused. Saturday gets a bit bigger, but it’s lumpy and junky. By Sunday morning, there’s a touch more size, but it’s still cross-on and not clean.

The first real glimmer of hope doesn't come until Sunday, August 30th, in the morning. We see some actual power building, with the combined energy jumping to 1116. The swell is a 7ft, but it’s let down by a light cross-onshore wind. It’s still questionable, but it’s the closest thing to a wave we’ve had. Still, I wouldn’t be rushing out for it.

Then, it just dies again. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday mornings are all flat, weak, and poor. The energy drops right off, and it's just small, crossed-up lines.

Things start to get interesting again on Thursday, September 3rd. The morning looks like it has some potential, with a 6ft northwest swell at a solid 13-second period, and the combined energy climbs to a strong 1173. The wind for the morning is just a whisper, which could make for some clean conditions at the right spot. The afternoon, however, gets chopped up again by a moderate cross-onshore breeze.

After that, we see a pulse of energy, but it gets blown out. The wind stays up and cross-onshore for a few days, and the swell mixes down. By the time we get to Monday, September 7th, the energy fades away, and we’re left with tiny, weak waves.

Now, if you’re just learning and don't mind the wind, Caspar Creek (Mendocino County) is an option. It’s a consistent, sheltered spot for beginners. Friday the 28th and Saturday the 29th have some surfable size, but remember that anything over 5ft is too much for a beginner. The water temp is sitting at 57°F, which is about normal for this time of year. It will be a bit of a battle with the cross-shore wind, but that’s the price you pay. However, if the wind is too strong and the surf is over 8ft and messy, it might honestly look more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

The second week is looking pretty weak. There are a few pulses of long-period groundswell, but they’re small and mostly coming in under the radar. September 11th has a slight bump of 5ft in the afternoon on a short, weak period, and the 12th has some small, clean-ish options but nothing that’s going to get the heart pumping.

Honestly, the only standout, if you can call it that, is the Thursday, September 3rd morning session at Caspar Creek. The swell direction from the northwest matches the optimum, the period is long, and the wind is light. There’s good energy behind it too. It’s about 6ft, so it's a bit much for beginners but should be a fun, powerful wave for those with some experience. It’s far from a guarantee, but it’s the best this whole stretch has to offer.

So, be patient. It’s not a good run of surf. Get your fix elsewhere and keep an eye on that Thursday morning a week out. Keep the faith. This is Rusty, signing off.

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