El Estero Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s look at what’s on the table for the next couple of weeks. We’ve got a solid run of surf coming, but you’ll need to be picky about when you paddle out. The swell is coming from the SW for the whole period, and that’s exactly what this spot wants to see. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so nothing freaky there.

The first real standout is Saturday morning, 5 September. El Estero is absolutely pumping. We’re looking at a 6ft swell from the SW with a 16-second period – that’s a proper groundswell with plenty of energy. The combined energy is a beefy 1451 (strong wave energy), and with a clean, gentle offshore wind from the ENE, it’s going to be glassy and lined up. This is for experienced surfers though; at this size and with that long period, it’s going to be powerful and not for the faint-hearted. The long period means it’ll have those nice long lulls between sets, making the paddle out a bit easier, but it’s best for the rivermouth setup here.

By Saturday afternoon, the wind swings onshore and the quality drops right off. Sunday morning (6 September) will see a drop to 5ft, but the wind is better, with a light NE breeze keeping it clean. The period drops to 14 seconds, so it’s still a decent swell, but the energy is down to 847 (moderate). It’s a good option, but not the standout.

The next really good session is Thursday morning, 10 September. We get a 4ft SW swell with a 17-second period, and the wind is a clean offshore from the ENE again. The combined energy is back up to 1124 (strong wave energy). That’s another excellent window for experienced surfers. The set-up will be clean and punchy, with those long-period sets offering some real gems.

After that, the swell slowly winds down. Mornings will generally be the best bet with lighter winds. The week of the 14th to the 20th sees smaller surf, mostly between 2ft and 3ft, but the period stays long, often over 15 seconds. That means the waves will be clean but not offering much power. The best of that second week is Sunday morning, 20 September, when the wind goes dead calm and glassy, with a 3ft SW swell at 19 seconds. The energy is 823 (moderate). It’ll be clean as a whistle, but small. Worth a paddle for a longboard or a funboard.

So, to sum it up: your best bets are Saturday morning, 5 September, and Thursday morning, 10 September. Those are the standouts. The rest of the period is a mix of clean mornings and choppy afternoons, with the surf fading out in the second week. Crowds are likely at El Estero, so get there early for the best ones.

Rusty.

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