El Camotal Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s run through the next couple of weeks at El Camotal. I’ll be straight with you – the wind’s got a mean cross-onshore streak that’s gonna mess up most sessions. The water temp is about 68°, which feels a touch warmer than usual for this time of year, so you can leave the thick wetsuit at home.

There’s no surf worth paddling out for right now, and the first real possibility doesn’t show up until later. After that, there’s a stretch of nearly a week and a half where the surf’s either marginal or poor, until we bump into early September.

Let’s break it down. Friday morning, 28 August, we’ve got a 6ft SW swell with a long 17-second period – proper groundswell – and combined energy at 1565. But the wind is cross-onshore from the SSW at 6 mph, so it’s got a bit of texture on the face. By afternoon, the swell hits 7ft, period 16 seconds, energy 2059, but the wind jumps to 12 mph and it gets choppy.

Saturday morning, 29 August, still 7ft SW, period 14 seconds, energy 1597 – decent power – but that same cross-onshore 6 mph wind. Afternoon gets smaller and rougher. Sunday the 30th, swell drops to 5ft by morning, energy 917, and the wind is still cross-onshore.

From Monday 31 August through Wednesday 2 September, the swell shrinks to under 4ft, energy falls below 500, and the wind never lets go. Poor to marginal conditions – not worth rushing out.

Then on Thursday morning, 3 September, a little bump: 4ft SW with an 18-second period, energy 1034. Wind is light cross-onshore at 6 mph, so it’s not clean, but it’s the most rideable we’ve seen. The afternoon kicks up to 5ft, period 17 seconds, energy 1346.

Friday, 4 September morning is the standout: 6ft SW, 16-second period, and the strongest energy of the whole forecast at 1654. But again, cross-onshore 6 mph wind means it’ll be lumpy. If you want the biggest push, that’s your window – just don’t expect perfection.

After that, it fades. Saturday 5 September morning has 5ft, 14-second period, energy 1052, but by afternoon it’s poor. From there, the second week kicks off with more of the same: marginal surf, cross-onshore wind, and swell hanging around 3ft to 5ft.

El Camotal is a consistent break, so it’s a bummer the wind is locked in. If we could get an offshore breeze, those long-period SW swells would be a treat. The best bets are the mornings of Thursday 3 September and Friday 4 September when the wind is lightest, and the swell is big and full of energy.

For the second week, around Tuesday 8 September morning, there’s another 5ft SW swell with a 17-second period and energy at 1570, but the wind is up to 9 mph cross-onshore, so it’s gonna be choppy. Nothing to get your hopes up too high.

So, keep your eyes on the wind. If it shifts, you’ll be in for some powerful, long-period waves. Until then, it’s a rough ride.

Rusty.

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