Crouching Lion Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about the surf for Crouching Lion.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you: we’ve got a long, dry run ahead. The first recommendation doesn’t kick in until Sunday, July 12th, and even then, it’s a rough one. The whole first week is a write-off for decent waves. The wind is coming straight out of the east-northeast at 12 to 19 mph pretty much constantly, and it’s either cross or cross-onshore, leaving the water lumpy, choppy, and just plain messy. The swell is small and weak, with combined wave energy mostly sitting between 100 and 200 (moderate energy), and the swell period is short, under 8 seconds, so there’s no push or shape to it. Don’t bother paddling out for a while.

We’ve got a gap of almost no surf action until we start seeing a shift in the second week. Around Monday, July 20th, the swell drops off even more, with combined energy dipping below 100 (weak energy) on the Monday afternoon. That’s about as flat as it gets.

Things finally start looking a bit more promising around Friday, July 24th. That’s when we see a long-period swell showing up. The swell height is small, around 2 ft to 4 ft, but the period jumps up to 14 to 18 seconds. That’s a clean, long-period groundswell. The combined energy climbs into the 400s and 500s (moderate to strong wave energy) by the 25th and 26th, and even hits 983 (strong wave energy) on July 27th. Now, there’s a catch – the wind is still cross-onshore from the east-northeast at 12 mph, which chops it up a bit. But the swell direction is from the east, and this spot (Crouching Lion) is a point break that’s exposed to the northeast. Long-period swell from the east, hitting a point break, that’s the kind of setup that can line up nicely, even with a bit of wind. The water temperature is about 79°F, which is normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The standout in this whole 16-day window is the morning of Monday, July 27th. It’s still small, with a 3 ft swell from the east, but that 14-second period and combined energy of 598 (strong wave energy) means there’s real grunt in the water. The wind is cross-onshore, but for a point break, that’s manageable. The catch is waves are small, so it’s not going to be a big day, but the quality of the swell is the best we’ll see. For a closer look, the weekend of the 25th and 26th also has that long-period pulse, with swell around 3 ft to 3 ft and periods of 15 to 16 seconds. That’s consistent, clean groundswell for a point break, and the combined energy is in the 400s to 500s. It’s going to be a quiet, patient session, but if you’re looking for shape and glide, that’s your window.

Crouching Lion is an inconsistent break, so don’t expect magic every day, but when the long-period east swell rolls in, it can hold its own. The crowds are listed as “sometimes” – so you might have a few others in the water, but not a circus.

So, to sum it up: the first week is a waste of time – onshore winds and weak, short-period junk. The second week, from July 24th onward, is where the real potential is. The best bet is July 27th for that long-period, punchy groundswell, even if the size is modest. Get out there for the early morning session.

Rusty, signing off.

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