Doheney Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s been cookin’ at Doheney Beach.

To be straight with you, the first week and a half is a bit of a write-off. We’ve got a long stretch of poor and marginal conditions from Thursday the 9th right through until Sunday the 19th of July. The swell is small, mostly around 1ft to 3ft, and the wind is cross-on or onshore for most of that time, making for chop and ripples. There’s a few moments of glassy or cross-off wind, but the swell just isn’t there to back it up. The wave energy is weak, sitting in the hundreds (336 to 634), and the breaks are inconsistent. It’s a frustrating stretch unless you’re happy to just sit on a board.

Now, hold onto your wetsuit, because things change in a big way. The standout, and I mean the *only* real standout in this whole 16-day window, is Sunday the 19th of July. The afternoon session is the absolute pick of the bunch. We’re looking at a solid 6ft S swell, with a period of 16 seconds – that’s a proper groundswell, bringing a heap of energy (3018). The wind is switching to a cross-off, which will clean the faces right up. It’s a reef break, so that long period energy will have some shape to it, but at 6ft, this is definitely for experienced surfers. Crowds are often a thing here, but on a Sunday with this quality, you’ll likely have company.

Monday the 20th of July is still pumping with a 8ft S swell, but it’s a bit raw and winds are light onshore, making it a bit messy. It’s still got a lot of energy (2475), but it’s not as clean as Sunday. The water temp is sitting at 67°, which is bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

To be honest, this is a classic case of a long flat spell being broken by one solid pulse. The first 10 days are a tough slog, so don’t get your hopes up until that Sunday afternoon rolls around. Keep an eye on the long-range, but it’s looking like a one-hit-wonder.

-Rusty

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