El Roque Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here again, switching to feet and Fahrenheit for the crew that thinks that way.

Let’s be real – this 16-day forecast is a tough nut to crack. We’re looking at a long stretch where the surf just isn’t cooperating.

The only break in the game is El Roque. It’s a reef, breaks pretty consistently, but the wind is almost always blowing on it or across it, and that’s killing any chance of clean faces.

We start on Thursday the 20th with a tiny 4ft swell from the north, but the period is a short 8 seconds. An onshore NNE wind at 12 mph is making a mess. Water temp sits at 76°, about 2° warmer than average for this time of year – feels nice, but the waves are junk.

This poor run just keeps rolling. Friday the 21st and Saturday the 22nd see the swell shrink and the period drop to a weak 6 seconds. Wave energy is low, with values like 143 and 165 (light stuff). Wind stays nasty.

Sunday the 23rd shows a flicker of hope. Morning has 3ft from the north with a period of 10 seconds, but it’s still onshore. By afternoon, the swell drops to just over 2ft, but the period jumps to 15 seconds – that’s a very long period groundswell. Energy climbs to 393, which is moderate. But with a light breeze on it and so little height, it’s barely rideable. Long-period lines on a reef can be sweet, but not when they’re that small.

Monday the 24th is the one to keep an eye on. Morning shows about 5ft from the NNW with a 12-second period. Energy is strong at 807, and the wind is onshore but light – a gentle breeze. It’s only a "marginal" call. The swell direction (NNW) is what El Roque likes best, and the size is solid, but that onshore wind keeps it from being a standout. It might be alright for a seasoned surfer who can handle a little chop, but it’s not the clean, glassy stuff we all want.

After Monday, it’s back to the same grind. Cross-onshore winds stick around, the swell period drops back to 7 or 8 seconds, and the energy stays moderate to strong but always messy. By the 28th of August into early September, the swell bumps up to around 6ft to 7ft, but it’s all short-period, wind-affected slop with a fresh breeze making it lumpy. That’s not for beginners – at 7ft it’s for the experienced only, and even then, the quality is poor.

Bottom line: there’s no true standout in this whole outlook. The best bet is Monday the 24th morning at El Roque, with a solid 5ft of NNW groundswell and a lot of energy. If you’re itching, that’s your window. But don’t get your hopes up too high.

Keep your board waxed and wait for a better day.

Rusty.

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