Etang-Sale Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it. We’ve got a solid 16-day window ahead for Etang-Sale, and honestly, there’s a proper run of surf coming through. The water is sitting at 77°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so you’ll be comfortable in a shorty or even just boardshorts.

The first few days are a bit of a slow burn. Wednesday the 5th kicks off with small 3ft to 3ft SSW swell, but the wind is cross-onshore, so it’s messy and barely worth a paddle. The combined energy is weak to moderate (427 to 515). Thursday the 6th morning gets a bit more interesting with a 6ft ESE swell, but the wind is cross-shore and the period is a short 9 seconds, so it’s still a bit lumpy. The real highlight on Thursday is the afternoon: the wind drops to glassy, and you get a clean 3ft SSW groundswell with a 13-second period. That’s a proper little window for a reef break like Etang-Sale, though the energy is only moderate (368).

Now, Friday the 7th is where it starts to fire. The morning brings a 7ft ESE swell with a 12 mph offshore wind from the ESE. That’s clean, and the moderate energy (1076) is building. This is for experienced surfers only – over 8ft it’s expert territory, but at 7ft, it’s a big, powerful wave for those who know what they’re doing. Saturday the 8th is a proper standout. The morning has 4ft SSW groundswell with an 18-second period, offshore wind, and strong energy (1797). The afternoon is even better: 5ft SW swell, 16-second period, still offshore, and energy hitting 1751. This is clean, consistent, and the long period will make for some beautiful, lined-up waves at the reef. Crowds are possible here, so get in early.

Sunday the 9th morning is the absolute best on offer. You’ve got 8ft ESE swell, offshore wind, and strong energy (1656). The period is 9 seconds, so it’s a bit shorter, but the offshore wind will keep it clean and punchy. This is excellent for experienced surfers. The afternoon turns to rain showers and cross-onshore wind, so it drops off.

The following week is more mixed. Monday the 10th and Tuesday the 11th have some decent SW groundswells (4ft to 5ft, 14-16 seconds) but the wind is mostly cross-onshore or glassy only in the morning Tuesday. The energy is moderate to strong. Wednesday the 12th and Thursday the 13th bring offshore winds again, but the swell drops to 4ft to 5ft, and the wind picks up to a fresh breeze (19-22 mph), so it’s clean but a bit blown out for the reef.

Then we get another big pulse. Friday the 14th is massive: morning sees 7ft ESE swell at 10 seconds, and the afternoon jumps to 10ft SE swell at 11 seconds. The energy is very strong (2906 to 4351). This is expert-only territory, and with that much power, the reef will be heavy. The wind is offshore, so it’s clean, but you’d better be on your game.

Saturday the 15th is the second standout. The morning has 6ft SW groundswell with an 18-second period, gentle offshore wind, and massive energy (3405). The afternoon is even better: 7ft SSW groundswell, 18-second period, same offshore breeze, and energy hitting 4458. This is the pick of the week for experienced surfers – long-period groundswell, clean, and powerful. Sunday the 16th and Monday the 17th still have good 4ft to 6ft SSW swell, but the wind shifts cross-on or cross-off, so it’s not as clean.

The last few days (Tuesday the 18th to Thursday the 20th) fade out. Swell drops to 2ft to 4ft, with light winds and glassy conditions on the 19th and 20th mornings. The energy is weak (155 to 426). It’s surfable for a longboard, but nothing to get excited about.

So, the two true standouts are Saturday the 8th and Saturday the 15th. Both have strong energy, offshore winds, and good groundswell. The 15th has the edge with that 18-second period, but the 8th is a close second. If you’re an advanced surfer, those are your days.

Rusty signing off.

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