El Camotal Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ve been staring at the charts for El Camotal, and the honest truth is, we’ve got a long, quiet run ahead. For a spot that’s usually consistent, this stretch is a real letdown. The water’s sitting at 70°F, which is much warmer than usual for this time of year—a pretty big anomaly.

We start off on Wednesday the 12th with flat, tiny waves. A 0.7ft to 1ft SSW swell with a very long period of 19-20 seconds, but it’s wrapped around from the WSW, right into a light cross-onshore breeze. The wave energy is weak (34). It’s just not worth paddling out.

Thursday the 13th sees a slight lift, with the swell bumping to 3ft in the morning and 4ft in the afternoon, still from the SW with a long period around 18-19 seconds. Wave energy picks up into the moderate range (586 in the morning, 881 in the afternoon), but that persistent cross-onshore wind—9 mph from the SSW—keeps it messy and choppy. The afternoon is poor, and the morning is only marginal at best.

Friday the 14th actually brings the biggest swell of the period. We’re looking at 5ft in the morning and 5ft in the afternoon, both from the SW with a 16-second period. Wave energy jumps into the strong range (1210 and 1103). Now, this is the one time I’d say it’s worth paying attention, but here’s the catch: the wind is still cross-onshore, 9-12 mph from the SSW. That’s going to chop it up. The size is decent, but it’s not going to be clean. Still, for a surfer hungry for something, the Friday morning session is the least bad option on the table. The afternoon gets windier and tougher.

From Saturday the 16th all the way through to Wednesday the 26th of August, it’s a long, grim stretch. The swell hangs around 4ft to 1ft, but the direction never changes—always SW—and the wind is stuck in that cross-onshore pattern. Most days are rated poor, with wave energy dropping from moderate to weak (as low as 77). There’s a morning on Sunday the 23rd that pops up with a 2ft swell and a long 17-second period, and the wind is light, but the rideable energy is marginal and the size is just too small to get excited about.

Towards the tail end, Thursday the 27th shows a bit of a pulse: 3ft to 4ft from the SW, with 15-16 second periods and moderate energy (636 and 589). But the wind is still cross-onshore, so it’s going to be raggedy.

For the standout? Look, there’s no full-blown winner here. Friday the 14th morning is the one time the swell has enough size and the energy is strong, but you’re fighting the chop. If the wind had been offshore, we’d be in business. As it is, it’s a marginal, grindy call for surfers who don’t mind a bit of wind. Beginners should steer clear of that 5ft swell—it’s too big for comfort in those conditions.

The rest of the fortnight is a write-off for any kind of quality. It’s rare to see such a consistent break go this quiet for so long. Forecasts can change, but right now, save your energy and wait for the next weather system to break this deadlock.

Rusty.

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