El Camotal Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty, and I’ve got the goods on your local surf outlook.

We’re looking at a pretty quiet run ahead, with no standout days in the first week and a bit. The swell energy is low and the wind’s got a cross-onshore feel that’s messing with things. There’s a bit of a pulse trying to build, but it’s not quite getting there until much later in the window.

The main break on the radar is El Camotal. It’s a consistent beginner-friendly spot, exposed to the swell, but it’s got a tricky setup with the wind. The water’s sitting at 69°F – that’s 5°F warmer than normal for this time of year, so it’s feeling properly balmy.

We’re starting off with a blank. Tuesday the 11th through Thursday the 14th of August, there’s nothing worth getting excited about. The swell is tiny or just not there, with combined energies barely ticking up and the wind is cross-onshore, keeping things choppy. On Thursday the 13th, we see a little bump – 3ft of SW swell, period around 18-19 seconds – that’s a long period groundswell, but the wind’s still cross-onshore and the energy is building. It’s marginal, but the potential is there for a few if you’re desperate.

Friday the 14th of August brings the biggest swell of this stretch: 5ft from the SW, with a 16-second period and combined energy over 1000. That’s a moderate-sized, long-period groundswell, which can make for better shaped waves, but at a beach or beach-and-reef setup, it might break a bit too straight. The wind is still cross-onshore (10-12 mph), so it’s going to be choppy and messy. This is for experienced surfers only – it’s pushing 5ft, so beginners might want to sit this one out.

After that, it drops off again. From Saturday the 15th through to Monday the 24th of August, the swell stays small (1ft to 5ft), the period drops, and the wind remains cross-onshore or onshore. The combined energy is mostly weak. It’s a long stretch of poor to marginal conditions.

Then, finally, on Wednesday the 26th of August, we see a late pulse: 4ft from the SSW with an 18-second period in the morning and 17 seconds in the afternoon. Combined energy jumps up – that’s moderate energy. Still cross-onshore wind (9-12 mph), so it’ll be choppy, but the long period (over 15 seconds) means better shaped waves if you can find a clean bank. It’s the best of a quiet bunch, but it’s a long way off.

Honestly, the only real highlight in the whole 16-day window is Friday the 14th of August, when the swell peaks, but the wind ruins it. For clean, glassy conditions? Not happening. For the die-hards, the Thursday 13th morning might offer a sneaky window with lighter winds.

If you’re kiting, the onshore wind and bumpy surf might be more your scene than paddle surfing on most of these days.

Keep an eye on that late pulse on the 26th – it’s promising, but it’s two weeks out.

Rusty.

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