El Anclote Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let’s have a look what’s on the cards for El Anclote over the next couple of weeks.

We’re kicking off with a bit of a slow start, to be honest. The first real chance to get wet comes Thursday afternoon (3rd September) but it’s looking pretty marginal with tiny 2ft swell from the SW and a light cross-shore breeze. The combined energy is moderate at 372 but the waves are just too small to get excited about.

Friday the 4th is where it starts to look a bit more promising. Early morning we’ve got clean 2ft SW groundswell pushing in with a 16-second period – that’s proper long-period stuff, so the waves will have some shape and push to them. The wind is light and cross-offshore from the NE, keeping things glassy. The afternoon cleans up even more with a straight offshore breeze from the NW. Combined energy is still moderate but solid around 352-354. The water is sitting at a toasty 89°F, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year – you’ll be surfing in a boardies and a smile.

Saturday the 5th continues the theme. Morning sees that same 2ft SW groundswell with a light cross-off breeze and moderate energy of 446, but there’s a risk of thunderstorms around. By the afternoon the wind swings offshore from the NW at 12 mph, giving us clean, lined-up waves. This is probably the best session on offer – small but clean, with that long-period swell wrapping into the reef properly. Good for beginners and fun for everyone.

From Sunday the 6th onwards, the swell mixes up a bit, dropping in height and shifting more westerly, with shorter periods around 11-12 seconds. The winds stay mixed – some cross-off, some onshore junk. Monday the 7th is a write-off with onshore winds and poor conditions. Tuesday and Wednesday (8th & 9th) are even smaller with messy winds and low energy readings dipping into the 200s. Not worth paddling out for.

There’s a real flat spell from around the 10th to the 13th. Swell drops to 1ft-2ft, combined energy falls below 200, and conditions are mostly poor or very ordinary. The 12th and 13th afternoons do see gentle offshore winds, but the waves are just too small to ride properly. A gap of about 4-5 days where there’s nothing doing.

Around the 14th and 15th we get a tiny lift – 1ft-1ft SW swells with longer periods returning (16-18 seconds) but the energy is low, under 130. Tuesday morning the 15th is glassy, dead calm wind, which is rare and beautiful, but there’s barely a ripple to surf. Still, if you’re desperate for a paddle and some peace, that’s your window.

The 16th and 17th see a blip of longer-period groundswell again, 22-second intervals on the 17th, which is very long. That kind of period can make the wave stand up nicely at a reef like El Anclote, but the size is only 1ft, so it’s more of a sightseeing day. Combined energy climbs back over 200 on the 17th but the morning is cross-shore, the afternoon is clean.

The last day of the outlook, Friday 18th, sees a slight bump to 2ft with 20-second period and low moderate energy at 237. Morning has a risk of thunderstorms and cross-shore wind, but the afternoon cleans up with a light cross-off breeze from the NW. It’s rideable, but still very small.

Overall, the standout window is Friday 4th and Saturday 5th – those are your best bets for clean, fun waves despite the size. After that, it’s mostly small and ordinary with a few glimmers for the patient. Crowds are sometimes an issue here, so on the good days expect company.

Rusty.

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