El Camotal Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the table for the next couple of weeks.

We’re kicking things off at El Camotal, and honestly, for the first few days, it’s a bit of a struggle. The swell is a weak 4 ft from the SW, but the wind is a cross-on from the SSW at 9 mph, and the wave energy is sitting at 431 (moderate), but the surf is described as poor. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, nothing special. Monday the 20th through the 21st is just choppy and messy, with a quick drop to 4 ft on Tuesday. The period is around 11-13 seconds, which is a decent groundswell, but that cross-on wind just ruins it.

Wednesday the 22nd and Thursday the 23rd are a write-off. Swell drops to 2 ft, and the wind stays cross-on. The energy is weak (154 on Wednesday morning). Not worth paddling out.

Then we get a glimmer. Friday the 24th morning, the wind finally swings to WSW at 3 mph and goes onshore, but it’s light and glassy. The swell is small at 2 ft, but the period is a massive 21 seconds – that’s proper long-period groundswell. The energy is moderate (365). It’s marginal, but if you’re patient, there might be a clean little wave. The afternoon sees the swell bump to 3 ft with a 20-second period, and the wind is still light.

Saturday the 25th is a similar story: 3 ft, 18-second period, light cross-on wind. The energy is picking up (528-599). It’s still marginal, but getting cleaner. The real standout, however, is shaping up for Monday the 27th of July. The morning sees 4 ft from the SW with a 16-second period, and the wind is light. The energy is strong at 1452. By the afternoon, it’s 6 ft, 16 seconds, and energy at 1693. That’s moderate to strong energy. The waves will have some punch, but it’s still a bit of a cross-on breeze. It’s the best we’ve seen.

Tuesday the 28th is the best on offer. The morning has the wind going onshore at 3 mph from the WSW, which is glassy and clean. The swell is a solid 6 ft from the SW, with a 15-second period. The energy is very strong at 1537. This is the one to circle. The water is still average temp, but the conditions are close to perfect. The afternoon gets a bit gusty with a cross-on, but the morning session is the pick of the entire forecast.

The surf stays in the 5 ft to 6 ft range through the end of July and into the start of August, but the wind is persistently cross-on, keeping it from being truly epic. By Wednesday the 30th, the swell drops to 5 ft, and the energy is moderate (738-840). It’s fat and messy.

Sunday the 2nd of August brings a new pulse: 6 ft to 7 ft from the SW, with a 13-14 second period. The energy is strong (1438-1387), but the wind is back to a cross-on from the SSW. That’s a bit too big and a bit too messy for a beginner, but for an experienced surfer, there’s some power in the water. The water is still just average for the time of year.

After that, the surf fades again through the 3rd and 4th of August, with dropping energy and continued cross-on wind. It’s not a great way to end the run.

Bottom line: The best window is Tuesday the 28th of July, morning. Clean, glassy, 6 ft, long period SW swell. That’s the one. The crowds are possible at El Camotal, so get in early. The second best is Monday the 27th, with a bit more wind. The rest is a wait-and-see, with a lot of marginal or poor conditions.

Rusty.

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