El Muelle Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer for our local stretch.

We’ve got a pretty wild ride ahead, but it’s not all good news. The first real surfable action is a massive, powerful swell that’s just too big for the spot. After that, things settle down, and we get a few windows of clean, manageable waves, but the second week drops off into tiny, weak dribble. There’s a stretch from the end of August right through the first few days of September with very little to get excited about.

El Muelle is the only game in town, and it kicks off with a bang on Saturday the 22nd of August. We’re looking at a solid 12ft swell from the SSW, with a period of 10 seconds. That’s a lot of water moving around, and the combined energy is a massive 2149. But here’s the catch – it’s simply too big for this beach and pier setup. The wind is a cross-offshore from the west at 22 mph, so it’s not a complete washout, but only the most experienced, serious crew should even be looking at it. The water temp is sitting at 51°F, which is a decent 4°F warmer than usual for this time of year, so at least you won’t freeze your ears off.

By Sunday the 23rd, the swell is even bigger, hitting 13ft from the south with a long 15-second period. The combined energy is through the roof at 7627. The wind swings onshore from the SSW, and the report says poor surf conditions – this one is a total write-off for paddling. If you’ve got a kite, this is your moment.

The real standout of the whole forecast comes on Monday the 24th of August. The swell drops to a much more manageable 7ft from the south, period a solid 11 seconds, and the combined energy is a strong 1186. The wind is a light cross-offshore from the NNE at 6 mph, and the report says it’s excellent for experienced surfers. This is your best shot. The waves will have some grunt, but the clean conditions will sort it out. It’s a bit big for beginners, but for the intermediates and up, this is the morning to be in the water.

Monday afternoon the swell drops to 7ft from the SSE, still clean cross-off wind, but the report flags it as marginal. The tide might be playing tricks. Tuesday the 25th sees the swell drop right off to 4ft, and it stays small and clean for the rest of the week. Wednesday the 26th picks up a little to 5ft from the SE, and the Wednesday afternoon session looks the best of the small stuff – a gentle offshore breeze from the NNW making it clean.

From Thursday the 27th onwards, the swell drops below 3ft, and the combined energy falls into the weak hundreds. The period stays decent, but the size just isn’t there. There’s a real flat spell from around the 29th of August through to the 3rd of September, with waves barely reaching 3ft and energy levels down in the double digits. The wind is mostly clean, but there’s nothing to push you into.

Saturday the 5th of September throws another curveball – a 10ft SSW swell appears, but the cross-shore wind is fresh and lumpy, and it’s again too big for the break. The Sunday the 6th is messy onshore with an 8ft swell. Not a good note to end on.

So, your best bet is Monday morning the 24th of August at El Muelle. It’s the only day that combines real size with clean conditions for the experienced surfer. After that, it’s a long wait for the next proper swell.

Rusty.

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