El Anclote Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, this is Rusty. Let's get into it.

We're looking at El Anclote (Mexico) for the next couple of weeks. The water is sitting at about 89°F right now, which is roughly 4°F warmer than normal for this time of year, so it's muggy out there.

The first few days are a slow start with surfable but very ordinary conditions. The energy is real weak, with combined energy readings around 94 and 76 (moderate energy) on Wednesday the 26th, just tiny 1ft SW swell with a long 16-second period. That's a long period groundswell, but with a wave that small, it's just not doing much. Morning winds are light cross-off from the NE, so it's clean, but there's no push.

Thursday the 27th and Friday the 28th are similar – still tiny, with the swell height staying at 1ft to 2ft. The energy gradually climbs into the hundreds (137 to 256), but we're waiting for things to get going. Saturday the 29th morning is the first real standout. Swell bumps up to 2ft from the SW, period at 16 seconds, and the combined energy hits 335 (moderate wave energy). The wind is light cross-off from the NE, and the forecast says "expect good surf conditions." This is the best of the early run. The afternoon has offshore wind from the NNW, which is a major positive for clean lines, but the swell drops a touch.

From Sunday the 30th through early September, it's a bit of a mixed bag. The swell stays small, mostly 1ft to 2ft, with periods dropping to 11-13 seconds. The energy sits between 138 and 245. The morning of Tuesday the 1st of September is glassy, but the waves are just 1ft – great for a beginner or a longboard groomer, but not much else.

Then we hit a dry spell. From Wednesday the 2nd through Sunday the 7th, conditions are pretty poor. There are some clean afternoons, but the swell is inconsistent and small. At one point on the 2nd, the wind is cross-shore, creating ripples, and the forecast says "poor surf conditions." This is a gap of about 5 days where the recommendations are thin.

But hold on. The second week shows a bit of promise. Thursday the 3rd of September afternoon sees a decent pickup: 2ft from the SW, 17-second period, combined energy at 362 (moderate wave energy), and the wind is cross-off from the NW. The forecast calls for "expect good surf conditions." Friday the 4th is similar, with the morning holding 2ft SW swell and 17-second period, energy at 359, and light cross-off winds. This is the best on offer for the whole outlook. The waves are clean, the swell direction is right for the break, and the period is solid.

From Saturday the 5th onward, it fades again. The energy drops back to the 170-307 range, and the wind gets tricky. The 8th of September has a glassy morning with 1ft and a very long 18-second period, but that's a lot of period for a tiny wave – it'll be super clean but slow.

So what's the call? The standout is Saturday the 29th of August morning and Thursday the 3rd of September afternoon / Friday the 4th of September. Those are the times to paddle out. For the rest, it's a patient wait or a longboard session. The consistent, very consistent nature of El Anclote means it doesn't stay flat for long, but for this stretch, the quality is mostly ordinary.

Rusty.

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