Doheney Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s on the menu for Doheney Beach. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, but we’ve got some moments of interest.

The forecast kicks off with a long-period, 16-second SSW groundswell pulsing in, but the winds are a problem. Through Tuesday the 21st and Wednesday the 22nd, we’re looking at 3ft waves from the SSW, but the wind is cross-on or just messy. It’s choppy, won’t be pretty, and the energy is moderate (around 589 to 708). The water is a very unusual 72°F—that’s 6°F warmer than normal for this time of year, which is a real treat. For the first couple of days, it’s more of a paddle and float session than a surf.

Thursday the 23rd is a little better. The swell bumps up to 4ft from the S, still with a decent 13-second period, and the morning sees light cross-onshore winds. The energy is still moderate (715). It’s not firing, but it’s a step up from the earlier slop. The wind turns more cross-shore in the afternoon, keeping it rideable.

The biggest highlight in this outlook is Saturday the 1st of August. We’ve got a solid 6ft of S swell, and the wind goes glassy in the afternoon. That’s a major positive—clean, smooth conditions. The combined energy is strong (1086). This is the standout session. The water will still be much warmer than normal, so it’s a real luxury. The 6ft is a bit much for a beginner, but for anyone with a bit of experience, this is the one to point for. The swell direction is S, which is a bit off the optimum SSW, but the glassy conditions make up for it.

There is a bigger swell of 7ft from the S on Friday the 31st of July, with even stronger energy (1537), but it’s a 14-second period and the winds are cross-shore, not clean. That’s more for the experts, and it’s a bit of a close-out risk at a beach break. The Saturday afternoon with the glassy wind is the better call.

After that, the wheels fall off. From Sunday the 2nd of August, the wind turns onshore and strong, and the swell drops. There’s a gap of several days with poor conditions and low energy, down to around 235 to 316. The wind is howling onshore, making it a complete write-off for paddle surfing. It’s a bit of a run of flat and wind-blown junk.

The break itself is a fairly consistent reef, but it’s a beginner spot, so the bigger swells will be a handful. Crowds are often an issue, so expect company on the cleaner days.

So, the play is: wait for the glassy Saturday afternoon, the 1st of August. That’s the best of the bunch.

Rusty.

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