Crouching Lion Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into it. We’ve got a mixed bag on the radar for this stretch, but I gotta be honest with you – the first week or so is looking pretty average. The wind is mostly cross-on or cross, and that’s going to keep things messy. The good news is, there’s a glimmer of cleaner conditions later on, but we have to work for it.

The standout spot we’re looking at is Crouching Lion. It’s a point break, and it’s inconsistent, so you’ve got to be patient. The water temperature is sitting at 80°, which is about normal for this time of year, so no wetsuit needed. The optimum swell direction here is from the NE, and most of the swell we’re seeing is coming from that quarter, which is a good sign.

Friday 4th September kicks off the period, but it’s a rough start. The morning has a NE swell of 7ft, but it’s coming with a 19 mph cross-on wind. The combined energy is moderate at 762, but the surf is just poor – lumpy and unappealing. The afternoon drops to 4ft with a very long period of 14 seconds, but that wind is still cross-on and choppy. No good.

Saturday 5th September is not much better. The swell picks up to 7ft in the afternoon, but the period is a nice 13 seconds. The energy jumps to 1698, which is strong. Problem is, the wind is still cross-on. It’s all stormy and messy. The combined energy is strong, but the quality is poor. Not one for the average surfer.

Sunday 6th September shows a bit of hope. The afternoon has a 7ft E swell, 12-second period, and the wind is cross-shore. The combined energy is 1175. The report says “marginal” though, and with a risk of thunderstorms, it’s a gamble. The wave quality is still rough.

Monday 7th September is the first day things start to turn. The morning is still a mess with a 8ft E swell and 19 mph cross wind, but check this out – the afternoon is our first real highlight. The swell is 5ft from the E, period of 13 seconds, and the wind switches to a cross-offshore direction. The combined energy is 1026, and the wave comment says “clean.” That’s what we’re after. This is the best-looking window in the first week. The break is a point, and with a long period groundswell like this, it should set up nicely. Just remember, it’s inconsistent, and crowds are possible.

Tuesday 8th September keeps the clean trend going. The morning has a 6ft ENE swell, 11-second period, and the wind is cross-off from the S. The combined energy is 899. The afternoon is similar with a 6ft swell. Both are “clean” conditions. This is a solid run of surfable waves.

After that, Wednesday 9th September sees the swell drop to 2ft in the morning, and the wind goes cross again. The energy drops to 349. The afternoon picks up a little to 4ft, but the wind turns cross-on, and the period drops to 8 seconds. Not worth it.

From Thursday 10th September all the way through to Saturday 19th September, the pattern is pretty grim. The swell stays between 4ft and 7ft, but the wind is consistently cross-on or cross. The combined energy is mostly moderate, but the wave quality is almost entirely “poor” with a few “marginal” spots. The period is generally short, around 7 to 8 seconds, which means weak, choppy surf. The 7ft days like Sunday 13th and Monday 14th might look big, but with 8-second periods and cross-on wind, it’s just a washing machine. These are not good for beginners, and for experts, the wind is just ruining it.

The absolute best bet in this whole 16-day window is the Monday 7th September afternoon and Tuesday 8th September at Crouching Lion. The swell is moderate, the period is long, and the wind is clean. That’s where you need to be. Everything else is a fight against the wind.

Stay patient, and keep an eye on that Tuesday window.

Rusty.

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