Cobblestones Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s shaping up. For the next couple of weeks, the only real game in town is Cobblestones, a serious reef setup. Usually, a spot this consistent would have us stoked, but this run is a mixed bag — big surf and tricky winds are the main story. We’ve got a pretty grim start, a sweet little window mid-week next week, and then a monster swell that might just be too much for even the locals.

The water’s sitting at 67°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so you might get away with a slightly thinner steamer.

Right now and into Sunday the 26th, forget it. Onshore winds are mashing a 16 – 16 ft SW swell into a mess. The combined swell energy is huge — 7505 on Sunday morning and pushing 11148 by the afternoon — but it’s all for nothing with the conditions. Monday the 27th stays ugly with a solid 12 ft SW groundswell (12-13 sec period) but cross-shore winds mean lumpy, unrideable surf. The energy reading is still very strong at 3904.

Now, here’s where it gets tasty. Tuesday the 28th of July is the standout of the whole forecast. Early morning, we’ve got a light offshore breeze from the ENE grooming a smooth 10 ft SW groundswell. That 14-second period means real power and long, clean lines at this reef. The combined swell energy is 3929 — solid and powerful. By the afternoon, the wind goes glassy. Absolute perfection. Fair warning: this is an advanced wave, and with big sets of 10 ft, this is not a day for beginners. Crowds are “sometimes” a factor, but on a morning that clean, expect a few sharp elbows in the water.

Wednesday the 29th remains a good shout. Swell drops to a more manageable 8 ft in the morning and 7 ft in the afternoon, both from the SSW. Clean light winds (cross-off) make it rideable. Energy is still very strong at 3068. Thursday the 30th sees the swell ease further to 6 ft — still long-period SW at 14 seconds. It’s clean with cross-off winds, but the energy has dropped to 1889. Good for a more relaxed session, but not the peak of the week.

Friday the 31st gets a bit tricky. The swell jumps back up to 8 ft – 12 ft from the SW, with a very long 16-second period. That’s classic groundswell. But the wind swings NNW and picks up to 19 – 22 mph, making it fresh cross-shore and lumpy. The energy is massive again (3781 – 5830), but the conditions won’t do it justice. Only for the keen and the tough.

The first week of August is a write-off. Saturday the 1st and Sunday the 2nd are trashed by strong cross-onshore winds and a messy, powerful swell (over 13 ft). Then Monday the 3rd to Thursday the 7th is a series of poor-to-marginal days with onshore winds and choppy seas. There’s simply nothing to recommend in that whole stretch.

Then we hit the big one. From Saturday the 8th of August through Monday the 10th, a truly massive swell rolls in. We’re talking 20 ft to 23 ft of WSW to SW swell, with periods extending from 14 seconds up to a massive 19 seconds on the Monday. The combined swell energy readings are staggering — 15876 on Saturday, jumping to 23663 on Sunday, and then peaking at an enormous 32613 on Monday morning. But here’s the thing: the guidance tells us this is simply too big for this break. Even with perfect conditions — clean and glassy on Monday with a 23 ft SW groundswell — it’s an expert-only proposition at best, and more realistically, it’s just not safe. Kite surfers might be eyeing the offshore winds and the huge lines, but for a paddle surfer at this reef, it’s a pass.

So to wrap it up: the absolute best on offer is Tuesday the 28th of July, with a second-best being Wednesday the 29th. Get out there early that Tuesday for the glass-off. After that, it’s a long, bumpy wait through a week of poor conditions, followed by a swell that's epic to look at from the cliff but not to surf. Keep an eye on the forecast, though — it can always change.

Rusty.

Read more