El Comedor Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into the outlook for the next 16 days. We’ve got one spot on the radar, and it’s a real specialist’s wave.

El Comedor is a reef break that only the experts should even think about paddling out at. It’s consistently exposed to the swell, and it needs the swell to come from the NNW to really line up. The water is running a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, sitting at 76°F with a positive anomaly of 3°F, which is a nice little bonus for the skin.

The first proper pulse of surf arrives Sunday afternoon, August 23rd. We’re looking at a clean 4 ft swell from the NNW at 14 seconds – that’s a proper groundswell, long period, packing solid energy (660). The wind is light from the N, blowing straight offshore. That’s glassy conditions, and for a reef, that’s about as good as it gets. The only catch is the forecast is marginal and the tide could be a factor, but for a Sunday afternoon paddle, it’s the standout for the whole run.

From Monday, August 24th through to the end of the month, the wind goes onshore or cross-onshore from the NNE, blowing at a solid 12-16 mph. The swell sticks around, building into the 5 ft to 6 ft range, but it’s messy. The period drops into the 6-12 second range, which is a mix of swell types, but the wind just ruins it. Conditions are poor, and I wouldn’t bother.

Wednesday, August 27th sees a drop in size to a tiny 2 ft with a weak 7-second period, barely any energy (50). The surf is flat.

Things get a bit more interesting as we head into September. Saturday, August 29th sees a jump in energy with a 6 ft swell from the NNW at 13 seconds – that’s a big, powerful groundswell with very strong energy (1295). But the wind is still cross-onshore from the NNE at 16 mph, so it’s going to be choppy and disappointing for a wave with that much potential.

The second week, from September 1st onward, the swell is consistently in the 7 ft to 8 ft range from the NNE at 8-9 seconds. That’s a short-period swell, which is generally less powerful and more dumpy, and the wind stays mostly onshore from the N or NNW at 12-16 mph. The energy values are moderate to strong (up to 1107), but for a reef break, this is a washing machine. The 8 ft size is expert-only territory, and with the wind on it, it’s not a good look. The Monday morning, September 7th shows a potential return to cleaner conditions with a 4 ft swell from the NNE and a light N breeze (6 mph), but it’s a long way off and described as marginal.

Honestly, if you’re an expert with a lot of patience and a 4/3, the Sunday afternoon, August 23rd is the only real window to get a clean, offshore, groundswell wave at El Comedor. After that, the wind just kills it for paddle surfing. The setup looks more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer for most of the run.

Stay safe out there.

Rusty

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