El Estero Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming down the line for El Estero.

First things first, we’ve got waves on the menu from the start of the forecast window, so no waiting around. The overall pattern is a mix of solid south-west groundswells, with a real standout for the experienced crew right around the 4th and 5th of September. The water temp is sitting pretty much where it should be for this time of year, so no surprises there.

Okay, let’s get into the details. The first good session kicks off Sunday morning, the 30th of August. El Estero is showing a clean 5ft of swell from the SW, with a 14-second period and a moderate energy level (920). The wind is a gentle cross-offshore breeze from the ENE, so the river mouth will be lining up nicely. This is a consistent spot, so expect it to be working.

Sunday afternoon takes a bit of a turn – a risk of thunderstorms and a cross-onshore wind makes it messy, so I’d be getting it done in the morning. Monday the 31st has a smaller 4ft SW swell, but the morning remains clean with a cross-off wind. The energy drops a bit (467), but it’s still a fun, manageable wave.

Tuesday the 1st of September is a real gem for the morning. We’ve got a clean 3ft SW swell with a light offshore wind from the ENE. It’s not huge, but it’ll be clean and tidy. The best of the first week, though, is Wednesday the 2nd of September. The swell drops to 2ft, but the period stretches out to a very long 18 seconds, and the wind goes glassy. The energy is still moderate (578), and with those conditions, the river mouth will be offering up some beautifully shaped, long-running waves. It’ll be clean as a whistle.

Thursday the 3rd has another glassy morning with a 3ft, 16-second swell, but the real standout for the whole forecast is Friday the 4th of September. The morning brings a clean 5ft SW groundswell, with a 17-second period and a strong energy reading of 1489. The wind is a light offshore from the ENE. This is proper surf – solid, powerful, and clean. It’s pushing into the 5ft mark, so if you’re not a confident surfer, it might be a bit much, but for the experienced crew, it’s going to be firing. Saturday the 5th is a close second with a similar 6ft swell (1450 energy) and a light offshore wind. Again, this is for the guys who know what they’re doing.

The second week is a bit more relaxed but still offers plenty of good windows. Sunday the 6th of September has a glassy 5ft SW swell, great for a long session without the crowds being too hectic. The following week sees a pattern of glassy mornings with smaller, longer-period swells, especially on the 8th and 9th of September. The 8th has a 3ft, 18-second groundswell in glassy conditions, and the 9th has a similar 3ft, 16-second swell.

On the 10th of September, we get another excellent morning with a clean 4ft SW swell and a gentle offshore wind, with energy pushing into the moderate-to-strong range (1041). The 11th and 12th stay clean in the mornings, with the 11th offering a solid 4ft, 16-second swell. The 14th of September wraps things up with a clean 2ft, 18-second swell in the morning.

So, the standout calls are clear: Friday the 4th of September morning is the best of the lot for experienced surfers. Saturday the 5th is almost as good. For the average surfer looking for clean, fun waves, the glassy mornings of the 2nd, 3rd, and 6th of September are your best bet. Crowds are possible at El Estero, it’s a known spot, so get out early.

Rusty.

Read more