El Gringo Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, let's talk about what's coming our way.

Overall, it's a bit of a slow start but there's some real potential later on. The first half of this outlook is pretty underwhelming, but if you're patient, the payoff could be solid.

Monday the 17th offers a little something, but it's not exactly firing. El Gringo, a reef break for the advanced crew, has a 4ft SW swell with a decent 14-second period. The combined wave energy is moderate (566). The water is a touch warmer than normal at 65°, about 3° above average. The problem? Monday morning has a light SW onshore wind, making for messy conditions. The afternoon cleans up nicely with a light NE offshore, so that's the pick of the day if you're desperate for a paddle.

From Tuesday the 18th right through to Sunday the 24th, it's mostly a write-off. The swell stays small, winds are wonky, and the scores are poor. There's a spike on Tuesday the 18th with a 6ft SW swell (combined energy 1074) but it's hampered by cross-onshore winds. Not worth the effort. The whole week is just a dull, marginal grind. Friday the 21st afternoon goes glassy with a tiny 2ft SW groundswell, and Sunday the 23rd afternoon does the same with 3ft SSW swell, but it's knee-high dribble at best.

Now, we get to the real interest. The standout window is from late August into early September. Thursday the 27th afternoon is the eye-opener. A very long period 19-second SW groundswell, coming in at 3ft, combines for moderate energy (559). The wind goes glassy. For a reef break like El Gringo, that long-period swell is premium – it'll wrap in nicely and offer proper shape. This one has "very good surf conditions" written all over it.

But the absolute best on offer, without a doubt, is Friday the 28th afternoon. The swell sticks around at 4ft from the SW, still a long 17-second period, and the combined energy jumps to a strong 1167. The wind is a light offshore from the NW, creating glassy, clean lines. This is "excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers". This is the session to circle on your calendar. You'll be looking at well-overhead waves with proper power. Expect crowds because this is classic, but for that quality, it'll be worth it.

The run continues into the next week, with Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th holding solid 6ft to 6ft SW swells with moderate to strong energy, but the winds are onshore or cross-onshore, so the quality drops. Not the clean perfection of that Friday afternoon.

So, to put it simply: the first week and a half is a no-go. Then Thursday the 27th shows promise, and Friday the 28th afternoon is the clear winner. Get on it.

Rusty.

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