El Anclote Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the coming weeks.

The overall picture is a quiet one, no doubt about it. We’re looking at a long stretch of small, ordinary surf with nothing to really get the heart racing. The first recommendation doesn’t even show up until Tuesday the 18th, and even then it’s a very modest affair. There’s a solid gap of very little to no real surf action before that.

El Anclote (a reef break) is our only spot in the frame. This is a beginner-friendly zone, and it’s very consistent, but right now the swell is tiny. The water temperature is about average for the time of year.

The first window of anything surfable kicks off late Tuesday morning, the 18th of August. The swell is a tiny 2ft from the SW, with a period of 14 seconds. That’s a long period groundswell, but with so little height, it’s just a gentle pulse. The wind is a light cross-offshore from the W, so the conditions are clean. The combined wave energy is negligible at 102, so it’s really just a paddle and a trim.

Wednesday the 19th looks much the same. Another 2ft SW swell, 15 seconds period, and a light cross-offshore wind from the NE in the morning keeps it clean. The energy is still weak (115). It’s surfable, but don’t expect to get your hair wet properly.

Thursday the 20th of August is the best of a very average bunch. The morning is glassy with a light wind from the ENE, and the swell is still a tiny 1ft from the SSW with a 14-second period. That glassy morning window is the cleanest the surf will be all week, even if the waves are barely ankle-high. The energy is a measly 89.

The pattern continues through the rest of the week and into the next. Small, clean windows but nothing with any push. The standout for the whole period, if you can call it that, is actually the last weekend of the month. The 29th of August sees a slight bump in the swell to 2ft from the SW, with a 16-second period. The combined energy jumps to 264, which is still only moderate, but it’s the most energy we’ve seen. The afternoon of the 29th has a moderate offshore wind from the NW, making for clean, lined-up waves at this reef. It’s not big, but it’s the best we’ve got.

The 30th of August is similar, with an offshore wind from the N in the morning, and a 2ft SSW swell, still with moderate energy (205). For a beginner, these are the most fun, clean days on offer.

After that, we’re back to the tiny stuff. The 1st of September brings a bit more energy (199) but with onshore wind and a risk of thunderstorms, so it’s not worth the drive.

Truth is, folks, it’s a flat spell. But the break is very consistent, so it won’t stay this way forever. Keep an eye on the forecasts.

Rusty.

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