El Anclote Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s comin’ down the line for El Anclote.

Looks like we’re in for a real slow start, and I mean dead flat. The first nine days are basically a write-off. There’s just no energy in the water to speak of. You’ll see a few tiny ripples from time to time, but nothing worth paddling out for. The conditions are often messy or cross-shore, and the swell heights are barely a whisper, mostly 0.7 ft to 2 ft. It’s gonna be a long, quiet stretch through the 13th all the way to the 21st of July. You’ll be better off waxing your board at home or checking the tide pools.

The water temperature here is a notable 89°, which is much warmer than normal for the time of year. That’s the kind of bathwater that makes you wonder if you need a wetsuit at all.

Now, hang in there, because things start to change around the 21st of July. Tuesday afternoon kicks off a proper run of surf. On the 21st we get a pulse of 3 ft swell from the SW, with a period of 14 seconds, and the wind goes clean offshore from the NNW. The combined energy starts to climb to a moderate 394. That’s the first real sign of life.

The standout window is from the 22nd through the 24th of July. Wednesday the 22nd is a beauty: morning has 4 ft SW swell with a light cross-offshore breeze, and the afternoon picks up to 4 ft from the WSW, with a solid 12 mph offshore wind from the NNW. Combined energy jumps to 584 - that’s moderate wave energy and it’s going to feel punchy. Thursday the 23rd is the pick of the bunch. The morning is glassy, with 4 ft of WSW swell at 13 seconds, and the energy hits 661. That’s clean, lined up, and looking proper. The offshore wind holds through the afternoon. Friday the 24th keeps the run going with 3 ft of clean swell and offshore winds again.

El Anclote is a reef break, very consistent, and it’s fairly exposed to the SW swell. It handles a long period swell well, and with that 12-13 second period, you’re looking at good shape and energy. The optimum swell direction is SW, so these swells are bang on. Just keep in mind, when the swell pushes over 5 ft, it’s not for beginners, and at 4 ft it’s still a fun size for most. The crowd situation has it as “sometimes” busy, so you might have a few others out, but it’s not a circus.

After that run, the 25th drops off a bit, and by the 26th it’s back to small, onshore slop. There’s a bit of a return on the 27th and 28th, with the 28th afternoon showing a very good 5 ft SW swell, offshore wind, and a combined energy of 687. That’s one to circle on the calendar, but it’s a week and a half away, so keep an eye on the updates.

Rusty out.

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