Doheney Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s be real about the next couple of weeks. It’s not going to be a period you write home about, but there’s a little something to get wet for if you’re keen and manage your expectations. We’re looking at a stretch of small, inconsistent swell, so this is more about getting a few fun ones than chasing anything epic.

The waves are going to be on the smaller side for a while, and the wind is mostly going to be light and cross-shore, which will keep things clean but not super crisp. The first few days, Wednesday the 12th through to the 16th, are pretty weak. The swell energy is moderate at best, with readings in the 200-600 range. You’ll find some knee-to-waist high lines at Doheny Beach, but it’s going to be a bit soft and contesty. The period is long, 16-18 seconds, which means it’s a groundswell, but there just isn’t much size behind it. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so the 3/2 will be fine.

The first real standout, if you can call it that, looks like Saturday the 15th. The morning session has a little more push with a summary swell of 3ft from the SSW, and the energy climbs to 620. It’s still small, but the period is a solid 16 seconds and it’s a Saturday, so there might be a few more heads out. It’s a beggar’s choice, but the morning glass-off is your best bet. Just don't expect any barrels.

After that, things get a bit rougher. Sunday the 16th afternoon gets a bit messy with the cross-shore wind picking up, and Monday the 17th looks poor as the wind swings more onshore. The middle of next week sees the swell drop off a cliff. From the 20th onwards, we’re looking at a serious gap with essentially nothing surfable. The wind goes straight onshore and the swell just fades away, with energy readings dropping below 200. This is a blank run, folks. The good news is the breaks around here are fairly consistent, so this kind of flat spell isn't permanent.

The end of the run, around the 26th and 27th, shows a hint of life returning. The period jumps back up to 18 seconds from the SSW on the 27th, but it’s still tiny at 2ft. It’s promising, but it’s over a week away and the forecast confidence is low. Keep an eye on it, but don't book the day off work.

The only spot on the radar is Doheny Beach (San Onofre). It’s a reef setup that’s fairly consistent, but it’s a beginner-friendly wave, so when it’s small, it’s pretty user-friendly. Crowds are likely, especially on the weekend. And with the long period, it’s going to be breaking a bit straight at this beach break. The best of a poor bunch is definitely the morning of the 15th, with that 3ft SSW groundswell and light winds. It’s not going to be epic, but it’s the most surfable wave on offer.

Other than that, it’s a lot of groveling or finding another hobby for a week.

-Rusty

Read more