Doheney Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, it’s Rusty here. Let’s cut to the chase—this isn't a week to get your hopes up. The ocean’s going to be pretty sleepy for the next chunk of days. We’re looking at a long, flat stretch ahead, so if you're itchin' for a wave, you're gonna have to be patient. The good news is that there’s a little pulse of energy trying to push through by the end of the first week, and it might just be worth a look.

The first few days, from Sunday the 9th through to around Thursday the 13th, are mostly a write-off. We're talkin' tiny surf, barely breaking, with a lot of cross and cross-onshore breeze messing up what little there is. It's the kind of stuff that has you staring at the ocean wondering if you should’ve just brought a book. The water is warm, though. At Doheney Beach, we're sitting at 75.4°F, which is a solid 8.1°F warmer than usual for this time of year. That’s a big deal, and at least the paddling won’t be a shock.

The energy starts to build a touch on Friday the 14th. Swell bumps up to 2.3ft to 2.6ft from the SSW, with the period stretching out to 18 seconds. The energy reading jumps to 548 and 679, which is a step up from the weak sauce we’ve had, but it's still not big. The winds stay light and cross, so it's not going to be perfect, but the water will be less messy than earlier in the week.

Then we get to the first real standout. Saturday afternoon, the 15th of August. The swell pushes to 3.9ft from the SSW, with a 16-second period. The energy is solid at 749. But the real kicker is the wind. It swings around to the WNW at 9 mph, giving us a clean, cross-off breeze. This is the moment. The forecast calls for very good surf conditions, and for once, the stars might align. Doheney’s a reef, so it’ll handle this swell better than a beach break. The wave direction is right on the money for its SSW optimum. It’s not giant, but it’ll be clean, and that’s a huge win after a week of mush. Crowds are often an issue here, so get out there if you can.

The rest of the second week is a bit of a letdown after that Saturday. Sunday the 16th has some similar size in the morning, but the wind gets a bit stronger and cross, and the quality drops. After that, it's a steady decline back into the small, weak territory. We’re back to 1.6ft to 3ft stuff, with mostly cross and cross-on winds. There’s a brief moment on Tuesday the 18th afternoon where a WNW cross-off breeze cleans things up, but the swell is small, only 2.3ft. The period does hang around 16-17 seconds, which is nice, but it’s just not enough push.

The final days, from the 21st all the way to the 24th, are grim. Swell drops to 1.3ft to 2ft, and the energy is weak. The period on the 22nd is long—21 seconds—but with that tiny height, it’s not going to break with any sort of authority. It's a long, quiet end to the outlook.

So here’s the bottom line: Saturday the 15th in the afternoon is your one true standout. It’s not a big-wave day, but it'll be the cleanest and most fun you’ll have all week. The long-period swell is a point in its favor for this reef setup, but keep an eye on it. The rest of the time, you’re better off finding something else to do. The water is unusually warm, which is a nice consolation, but the waves aren't cooperating. Keep the faith, though—this kind of flat spell doesn't usually last forever.

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