Crouching Lion Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s in the water for the next couple of weeks.

To be straight with you, it’s a rough patch. The first week and a half is mostly blown-out, with very few moments worth getting wet for. The water temp is 80°F, which is right on average for the season, so at least it’s comfortable.

The only real highlight comes late in the forecast. On Thursday, August 27th, we get a proper groundswell with a period hitting 18 seconds. That’s serious energy, with a combined swell energy of 1383 (moderate to strong). The swell is about 4ft from the E, and while the wind is still cross-onshore, it’s light enough that the surf will be messy but not completely blown out. The guidance calls it a marginal call, but that long period means the waves will have shape and push – though at a beach break, they might be a bit straight. This is the clear standout.

Before that, it’s a write-off. From August 14th through August 22nd, we’ve got strong cross-shore and cross-onshore winds, choppy, lumpy, and messy conditions. The swell energy maxes out at 2502 on the 16th, but with 25 mph winds and a cross-chop, that’s kite-surfing territory, not paddle surfing. Waves hit 13ft that day, but it’s all wind-slop and danger. Beginners should stay out of anything over 5ft, and when it’s over 8ft, it’s for experts only – and even then, not in those winds.

There’s a tiny window on Saturday, August 22nd, with a light SE breeze giving us a clean morning and waves around 3ft from the ENE. The swell energy is low at 107, and the period is short (8 seconds), so it’s small, weak, and ordinary. Surfable, but nothing to write home about.

The gap is brutal – from now until August 27th, that’s a 13-day stretch with no real recommendations. That’s a long dry spell, but it’s normal for this spot when the trade winds are blowing.

So, my call: be patient. The best bet is the morning of Thursday, August 27th, at Crouching Lion (point). That long-period groundswell from the E at 4ft with an 18-second period is the only real chance at something with a bit of life. The wind will be cross-onshore, but light, so the surf will be messy but rideable. It’s not a classic, but it’s the best we’ve got.

Rusty.

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