Castles Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks. Rusty here. Let’s get into it. We’ve got a 16-day window looking at Castles, a consistent reef break that’s exposed to the swell. This is a beginner-friendly spot, so keep that in mind when the swell gets up.

Right off the bat, we’re in for a treat. The period kicks off on Sunday, August 16th, with a solid SW groundswell rolling in at 4 ft, with a long 14-second period. The combined energy is a solid 668 (moderate wave energy), and with a light ESE breeze, it’s going to be clean. The morning is the pick here – expect very good surf conditions. The afternoon gets a bit windier with a 12 mph SE wind, which will mess with the shape a little, making it a marginal call.

Monday, August 17th, is a gem. The morning offers a smaller 3 ft swell, but the period stretches to 16 seconds, pushing the energy to 605. The wind is light offshore from the ENE, and the wave state is described as “gentle offshore and clean.” This is going to be a glassy, fun-sized wave. The afternoon stays clean too, with a 4 ft swell and 782 energy, but the wind goes cross-off from the SE.

Tuesday, August 18th, is a write-off. The northerly wind hits 22 mph, making it messy and lumpy. The morning is marginal, and the afternoon is outright poor. Skip it.

We get a bit of a lull Wednesday and Thursday, but Thursday morning, August 20th, is worth a look. It’s a 3 ft SW swell with a 16-second period, 528 energy, and a light offshore breeze from the ENE. The forecast says “very good surf conditions,” and the water temperature is about average for this time of year – no weird anomalies to report.

Now, here’s where it gets a little rowdy. Friday, August 21st, the swell jumps. The morning brings a 6 ft swell with 1937 energy (strong wave energy), and it’s clean with a light, cross-onshore wind. This is a big step up, but it’s still manageable for the more confident beginners. The afternoon, however, gets ugly with a 19 mph wind and 7 ft swell – that’s a no-go.

The weekend of August 22nd and 23rd is the standout. Saturday, August 22nd, we have a 7 ft SW swell all day, with periods of 15-17 seconds. The energy is high – 2068 in the morning, jumping to 2671 in the afternoon. The wind is cross-off from the SE, keeping it clean. This is a powerful, long-period groundswell. At this size, over 7 ft, it’s getting into the “experts only” territory, but it’s a reef break, so it should handle the long period better than a beachie. Sunday morning, August 23rd, is the absolute highlight. The swell drops to a still-chunky 5 ft, with a 16-second period, 1265 energy, and a light offshore from the north. The forecast calls it “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” This is it. The best on offer.

The early part of the second week, from August 24th to 26th, looks messy. Strong winds and dropping swell make it a poor bet. There’s a bump on Thursday, August 27th, with a 7 ft WSW swell coming in the morning, but it’s a short 9-second period, so it won’t have the punch. The afternoon gets a big 8 ft groundswell with 18 seconds and 3386 energy, but the wind is onshore, killing the quality.

The tail end of the forecast, from August 28th to 31st, is a write-off. Onshore winds and strong breezes dominate. The only light is Monday, August 31st, with a clean 4 ft, 18-second groundswell and a light ESE cross-off wind. It’s a nice way to finish the run, but it’s nothing compared to that Sunday the 23rd.

So, the top pick is clear: Sunday, August 23rd, early morning at Castles. Big, clean, powerful groundswell with offshore wind. Get on it.

Rusty.

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