El Roque Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s break it down, wave-wise. I’m Rusty, and I’m not gonna sugarcoat it – this one’s a tough stretch for anyone looking to get a proper wave.

The only break we’ve got the full picture on is El Roque, a reef break. It’s a beginner-friendly wave, but it only breaks sometimes. The ideal swell direction is from the NNW, but the whole forecast is fighting a strong NNE wind. The water is about 73°F, which is normal for the time of year, nothing weird.

We start on Sunday, July 19th, with a 6 ft swell from the NNE, but a cross-on wind of 16 mph is blowing it out. The combined energy of all swells directed here is moderate at 281, but the short 7-second period makes it weak and messy. It’s just poor surf.

Monday the 20th and Tuesday the 21st are no better. The swell pushes to 7 ft, and the energy climbs to 414, but the wind is still onshore or cross-on, and the period is short. It’s all the same story – poor conditions. This pattern keeps up through Wednesday, Thursday, and into Friday the 24th, with the swell reaching 7 ft and energy hitting 573, but the wind is always onshore at 12 to 16 mph. The period never gets above 8 seconds, so it’s just a choppy, ugly mess.

The swell keeps building over the weekend of the 25th and 26th, hitting 8 ft, and the energy jumps to 1014, which is strong. But the wind is still onshore, and the period is only 9 seconds. For a reef break, 8 ft with onshore wind is a dangerous, ugly beast, and it’s for experts only.

The real standout peak is Tuesday, July 28th. The swell hits 10 ft from the NNE, with a massive combined energy of 1509, which is very strong. The period is 9 seconds, so it’s got some power. But the wind is a cross-on 16 mph breeze, and the conditions are still poor. For a reef break, 10 ft with cross-on wind is going to be a frightening, heavy, and messy wave. The swell direction is NNE, not the ideal NNW, so it’s not hitting the break perfectly. The crowds are listed as “sometimes”, so you might have it to yourself, but you’d be crazy to want it. This is a beast for the most experienced chargers only.

From Wednesday the 29th through to August 3rd, the swell slowly drops from 10 ft back down to 5 ft, and the energy falls with it. The wind stays onshore or cross-on, and the conditions remain poor. There’s no clean glassy window, no offshore wind, just a long run of onshore slop.

The best on offer is definitely Tuesday, July 28th, but only if you’re a seasoned expert. The size and power are massive, but the wind is a real killer. It’s a heavy, powerful wave, but it’s going to be a fight to survive. For everyone else, there’s nothing to get excited about. The whole 16-day window is a washout for clean, fun surfing. The inconsistency of the break and the persistent bad wind make it a blank run. This setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

Rusty.

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