El Gringo Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. The next couple of weeks are lookin' like a bit of a slow grind, but there's a couple of windows that could get the heart goin' if you're patient.

The first real recommendation doesn’t kick off until the 1st of September, and even then, it’s a bit of a tease. There’s a decent amount of energy in the water, but the conditions are holding it back. We’re talking a solid 4 ft of swell from the southwest, with a period of 12 seconds, giving a moderate wave energy of 626. The water’s sittin' at 66°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. The problem is the wind is coming straight out of the southwest, right onshore, which is gonna mess with the surface. The wave comment says "marginal surf forecast or questionable tide conditions," and it’s scoring low. It’s not the day to paddle out, but you can see the potential.

The pattern doesn’t really improve through the first week. The wind stays light, mostly onshore or cross-onshore, with the swell hanging around 3 ft to 4 ft. The energy builds a bit, hitting 1059 on the afternoon of the 3rd, but the wind is still onshore. It’s frustrating because the swell is there, but the quality is just not coming together. The 4th of September sees the swell push up to 5 ft in the afternoon with a period of 15 seconds, and the energy is strong at 1108, but again, the wind is onshore or cross-onshore. It’s clean enough to look at, but not clean enough to surf well.

The real standout, the one that’s got me a little more excited, is the 14th of September. That’s a Monday. The morning shows a solid 5 ft from the south-southwest, with a very long period of 18 seconds. That’s a proper groundswell. The combined energy is strong, hitting 1265. In the afternoon, it bumps up to 5 ft with a 17-second period and an energy of 1493. The wind is light and onshore, which is a bummer, but the swell itself has serious potential. The break is El Gringo, a reef setup, and it’s exposed to the southwest swell. The optimum swell direction is southwest, so this is a good match. The difficulty is advanced, and it’s fairly consistent. Crowds are a possibility, but not a guarantee. For a surfer who knows what they’re doing, this is the window to circle. The 15th of September also has some juice, with 5 ft from the same direction, but the wind starts to shift cross-onshore, and the energy drops off a bit.

After that, the 16th of September sees the swell drop right back down to 3 ft, and the energy is weak. It’s a quick fade-out.

So, to lay it out plain: the first week is a wash. The surf is there, but the wind is always wrong. The best bet is the 14th of September at El Gringo. It’s a long-range call, so don’t lock it in, but it’s got the size, the period, and the direction. If the wind gods smile, it could be a proper session. Don’t get your hopes up for anything else in this window.

Rusty.

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