Castelejo Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you from the start: the next couple of weeks are looking pretty grim for a proper surf at Castelejo. We’ve got a long, stubborn stretch of poor conditions ahead, so don’t get your hopes up.

The pattern is dominated by persistent cross-onshore and onshore winds, mostly from the NNW, with the swell staying small and weak for days. The water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing unusual.

We kick off on Tuesday the 14th with tiny 2ft NW swell and a meager 8-second period — combined energy is a weak 84. Morning sees a light breeze, but the afternoon turns ugly as the wind shifts WNW and the surf drops to 2ft. This is a no-go zone.

Wednesday the 15th through Friday the 17th is a write-off. Swell barely holds at 1ft to 3ft, periods are short (4 to 9 seconds), and the wind keeps hammering it from the NNW and N. The combined energy sits between 34 and 56 — that’s barely a ripple. The waves are choppy, lumpy, and just plain messy.

Saturday the 18th through Monday the 20th, we get a slight bump to 3ft–4ft, but the period is still short (5–6 seconds) and the cross-onshore wind is relentless. Energy climbs a bit to 114–115, but it’s still poor surf — moderate cross-onshore chop. Not worth paddling out.

Tuesday the 21st to Thursday the 23rd offers nothing better: 3ft–5ft NW swell, but periods remain short at 5–6 seconds, and the wind stays fresh from the NNW. By Thursday afternoon the energy hits 164, but the “fresh cross-onshore and lumpy” description tells you all you need to know. The setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing at this point.

Now, there is a glimmer in the longer range, but we’re talking about the last few days of July and into July 28th and 29th. From roughly the 24th onward, the swell starts to push above 5ft. On Saturday the 25th, we see 5ft–6ft NW swell with a 7-second period, and the energy jumps to 298–422. Still, the wind is a strong cross-onshore, making it messy. This is expert territory size-wise but the quality is poor.

By Tuesday the 28th and Wednesday the 29th, the swell reaches 7ft–7ft from the NNW, periods finally stretching to 8–9 seconds, and the energy is strong — 621 to 749. This is only for experienced surfers, and the cross-onshore wind from the N and NNW keeps it lumpy. Honestly, for a beach-and-reef setup like Castelejo, these longer-period NNW swells are better suited to points or reefs, so don’t expect perfection.

There are no true standouts in this entire 16-day window. The only days with enough size and energy to consider would be the 28th and 29th, but the wind kills it. If you absolutely have to get wet, that’s your best bet — but it’s a gamble.

Crowds at Castelejo are sometimes an issue, but honestly, with this outlook, you might have the place to yourself.

Stay tuned, forecasts can change. Rusty.

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