Castles Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, I’ve looked at what’s coming our way for the next couple of weeks, and I’ve gotta be straight with you. It’s a quiet stretch, no doubt about it. There’s a long gap here with barely a ripple to get excited about, so patience is the name of the game.

The first real chance of anything worth paddling out for doesn’t show up until Monday, July 13th. Before that, from now right through to the end of Sunday, July 12th, it’s a whole lot of nothing. Small, weak swells, poor winds, and just messy conditions. There’s a little pulse of energy showing on Wednesday, July 8th, with some combination swell energy hitting 146 (moderate) and waves around 4 ft from the south, but the wind is cross-onshore and choppy. Not worth your time.

Now, let’s talk about that Monday, July 13th. Castles is the only spot in the game, a sandbar break that’s fairly exposed to swell. It’s a beginner-friendly wave, and it’s fairly consistent. On the Monday morning, we’ve got a clean, offshore wind out of the northwest, light at 6 mph. That’s a proper offshore, and it’ll clean things right up. Swell is around 4 ft from the east, with a short period of 6 seconds, and the combined energy is a moderate 106. The water temp is a balmy 74°, which is 5° above normal for this time of year – that’s a standout, much warmer than you’d expect. It’s surfable, but the conditions are described as very ordinary, so keep expectations in check. It’s a small, weak groundswell, nothing to write home about, but with that clean wind, at least you’ll get a few fun ones. Crowds are sometimes an issue here, so don’t expect to have it to yourself.

That’s really the only bright spot. After that Monday morning, the wind goes, the swell drops, and we’re back to small, chopped-out junk. There’s a bigger pulse of south swell showing up on Friday, July 17th (6 ft, period 6 seconds, energy 203 – moderate), but the wind is howling onshore at 19 mph. That’s a mess. Saturday the 18th looks a bit cleaner with a cross-offshore wind and a 5 ft south swell, energy 252 (moderate), but it’s still just ordinary, not really a standout.

Honestly, if you’re desperate for a paddle, make the most of that Monday morning at Castles. Otherwise, it’s a waiting game. The long-range stuff on the 18th is promising if the wind plays ball, but it’s a week and a half away, so don’t bank on it yet. It’s one of those periods where the ocean just doesn’t have much to offer. Forecasts can always change, but right now, it’s a quiet spell.

– Rusty

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