Conto Springs Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it. We’ve got a massive run of groundswell headed our way over the next sixteen days, but it’s not all smooth sailing. The standout is a very consistent, exposed reef break that will handle the size, but the timing is everything.

The main event is all about Conto Springs. This is a very consistent, exposed reef that’s made for this kind of energy. The ocean is pumping right out of the gate. The water is sitting at a balmy 68°, which is a solid 5° warmer than usual for this time of year – that’s a very notable difference and feels great.

We kick off Saturday, August 8th, with a brute of a swell. We’re looking at 23ft of SW groundswell with a very long period of 15 seconds. The combined energy is massive (21496), but those cross-off winds are strong, near gale force at 31 mph. It’s clean, but this is expert territory only. The size is too big for anyone else. That afternoon, the swell stays solid at 23ft, period stretching to 16 seconds, and the energy just keeps coming (25973). The wind backs off a bit to a strong breeze, but it’s still a beast.

Sunday, August 9th, the swell eases to 16ft, but the period is still a very long 16 seconds. The morning is a bit messy with a cross-shore wind, and it’s only marginal. By the afternoon, the onshore wind picks up and conditions go poor. Not the day.

Monday, August 10th, the swell is 16ft to 18ft with a shorter period of 11 to 13 seconds. The wind is cross-off but strong. The morning is clean but the energy is moderate (5329), and the afternoon picks up (10481) but it’s still marginal. Not the best.

Tuesday, August 11th, is a monster. The swell is 18ft to 20ft, period is back to 16 seconds, and the energy is absolutely sky-high (39883 in the morning). The wind is cross-shore, but the size is just too big for this break, even for the strong crew. It’s a clean, powerful beast, but it’s a handful.

Things settle down from Wednesday, August 12th through to Friday, August 14th. Swell drops to 10ft to 15ft, but the wind is onshore or cross-onshore, making it choppy and marginal. The energy is low (3866 to 8044). Not worth paddling out for.

The weekend of August 15th and 16th stays poor. The swell is 8ft to 13ft, but the wind is onshore and gusty, making it lumpy and messy. Skip it.

Now, here’s the real standout. The whole window shifts on Monday, August 17th. This is the one to circle on the calendar. The swell is a solid 15ft from the WSW with a very long period of 17 seconds. The combined energy is strong (13090). The magic is in the wind. We’ve got light to gentle breezes blowing cross-off, creating clean, lined-up conditions. This is exceptional surf for expert surfers. The long-period groundswell will be holding up its shape on this reef, offering some serious power and long, clean walls. The crowds are a possibility here, but with this quality, it’s worth the company.

Tuesday, August 18th, the swell jumps back up to 20ft to 21ft, and the wind is onshore and messy. Too big and blown out. Wednesday, August 19th, we see another massive pulse of 21ft SW swell with incredible energy (39585), but the wind is light and cross-onshore. It’s clean but the size is just too much for the break.

The last few days of the outlook, from August 20th to the 23rd, are a washout for paddle surfing. The swell is 15ft to 25ft, but the wind is consistently onshore, strong, and messy. The energy is still high (89133 to 31564), but the onshore wind will turn it into a chaotic, lumpy mess. With a setup like this and those winds, it looks more interesting for the kite crew than us on a surfboard.

So, to wrap it up: Monday, August 17th is your absolute best bet for a true standout session. The rest of the window is either too big, too windy, or just plain marginal. Get out there on the 17th if you’re an expert and want the wave of the forecast.

Rusty.

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