El Estero Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get stuck into what’s cooking for El Estero over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a bit of a slow start this afternoon. There’s a 2ft SW groundswell rolling in, with a very long 18-second period, but it’s barely enough to get excited about. The water’s sitting at a warm 86°, which feels a touch warmer than usual for this time of year. The onshore wind is making things a bit messy, so don’t expect much today.

Come Monday morning, the wind swings offshore from the ENE at a gentle 9 mph, cleaning things up nicely with that same 2ft SW groundswell (18-second period). It’s small, but clean and rideable for a log. The afternoon turns to rubbish though with onshore wind, so get on it early.

Tuesday (25th August) sees a bit more wind, a moderate ENE breeze at 12 mph, but it’s offshore or cross-offshore, keeping the 2ft, 16-second swell manageable. Wednesday morning is ordinary with weak 2ft swell and light wind, and the energy is barely there. Thursday is more of the same – small and average.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Friday 28th August is your first real standout. The swell picks up to 3ft from the SW with a 19-second period, and the combined energy is decent. A moderate offshore breeze from the ENE keeps it clean. This is the one to aim for if you want a proper session.

Saturday 29th August morning is for the experienced crew only. That SW swell bumps up to 5ft, still with a 16-second period, ENE offshore wind at 9 mph, and the energy is strong. It’s going to be pumping, but it’s head-high plus, so leave the foamies at home. The afternoon gets chopped up by a cross-onshore wind.

Sunday 30th August has a clean, light wind morning with a 5ft, 14-second swell. Good fun, but the afternoon gets sketchy again.

The second week holds a couple of goodies. Thursday 3rd September – glassy conditions, a 3ft, very long-period 20-second SW groundswell, and solid energy. That long period means it’ll be lined up nicely at this river mouth, with good gaps between sets. It’s a winner.

But the absolute pick of the whole outlook? Friday 4th September and Saturday 5th September. On Friday morning, the swell jumps to 6ft from the SW (17 seconds) with a light offshore wind (NE 6 mph) and very strong wave energy. The guidance says excellent for experienced surfers, and I’d back that. Saturday morning is nearly identical: 6ft SW swell, 16-second period, offshore E wind at 9 mph, and equally strong energy. This is big, clean, powerful surf for those who know what they’re doing.

After that, Sunday the 6th and Monday the 7th are still solid with 5ft and 4ft, clean and cross-offshore winds, but the real juice is on that Friday and Saturday.

One thing to keep in mind: this place can get crowded often, so expect company on the good days. The consistency is solid, so even the smaller days have something to offer.

Rusty.

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