El Anclote Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s happening at El Anclote for the next couple of weeks.

First off, it’s a slow start. The waves are flat and weak for the first several days, so don’t rush out. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing to write home about.

The first real chance to paddle out comes on Friday, August 7th, but it’s a real struggle. We’re looking at a tiny 1ft swell from the SSW with a long 18-second period – that’s a groundswell, but it’s got no power. The combined energy is weak (132). The morning has a cross breeze and a risk of thunderstorms, so it’s messy. The afternoon cleans up with a cross-offshore WNW wind at 9 mph, but it’s still only 1ft. Surfable, but very ordinary.

The weekend is a bust. Saturday and Sunday both show the same 1ft to 2ft dribble with onshore or cross-off winds. Sunday afternoon does turn offshore from the NW at 6 mph, giving you the cleanest wind of the weekend, but the swell is barely there. That’s the story for a while.

The whole first week is a rough grind. Monday the 10th through Thursday the 13th are all about 1.0ft to 2ft swell with periods dropping into the 13 to 16-second range. The combined energy stays weak, mostly between 93 and 166. There are a few clean windows – like Thursday morning with glassy conditions and a light easterly breeze – but the wave size is just ankle-biters. You’ll be scratchin’ for anything.

Now, things look a little more promising toward the end of the second week. Friday, August 14th is the first real standout. We’ve got a 2ft swell early, but it’s 18-second period and the energy jumps to 263 – that’s a moderate pulse. The morning is glassy, dead calm, with no wind. That’s a rare treat. The wave comment says “surfable but very ordinary,” but that glassy, clean surface on a groundswell at a reef break? That’s your best bet for a proper session. The afternoon sees the swell bump to 2ft with a 17-second period and energy at 317. The wind goes cross-shore from the WSW, so it’s a bit choppy, but that’s a bigger pulse.

Saturday, August 15th carries that 2ft swell with a 16-second period. The morning is cross-shore from the ENE, but the afternoon turns offshore from the NW at 9 mph, giving you clean, gentle offshore conditions. That’s a solid window. The energy is still moderate (254). This is a good call for a longboard or a funboard.

After that, it fades again. Sunday the 16th through the end of the forecast sees the swell drop back to 1ft to 2ft, with periods shrinking to 14-15 seconds. The energy falls back to the 88-142 range. There are a few glassy mornings (Monday the 17th, Tuesday the 18th, Friday the 21st, Saturday the 22nd) but the waves are tiny. It’s a flat finish.

The Call: If you’re pickin’ a day, Friday, August 14th is the one. That glassy morning with the 2ft, 18-second groundswell (energy 263) at the reef is your cleanest, most promising session. The Saturday afternoon (August 15th) is also a good shout with the 2ft swell and offshore wind. Everything else is a flat grind. Don’t expect much, but if you’re patient, you’ll get a couple of clean little waves.

Rusty.

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