Fausse Passe Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the table for Fausse Passe.

First off, the water is sitting at 73°F, which is pretty much normal for this time of year, so no nasty surprises when you hit the water. This is a reef break that needs a good SW swell to really fire, and it’s exposed to that direction, so we’re reliant on the right angle coming in.

The outlook starts slow, real slow. For the first few days, the surf is small and weak. Saturday morning (July 25) we’ve got a weak 3ft SE swell with a short period of 8 seconds, and side-shore wind making for a messy cross-chop. The combined energy is only 173, which is barely a whisper. Not worth paddling out.

Saturday afternoon shows a tiny 2ft swell from the SSW, but look at that period – 17 seconds. That’s a long groundswell, and the wind is going cross-offshore, cleaning it up. The energy is still low at 240 though. You might see a clean little wave, but it’s going to be inconsistent and small.

Now, Sunday July 26... this is where it gets interesting. We’ve got a solid 12ft swell from the SSW, with a 15-second period on the morning and 14 seconds in the afternoon. The combined energy is massive – 5267 in the morning and 4370 in the afternoon. That’s powerful, very powerful. The wind is cross-off from the SE, so the face will be clean. But I’m telling you straight, 12ft at this reef is no joke. The data says it’s too big for this break. This is advanced, experienced-only territory. For the average surfer, or even a strong intermediate, this is a day to watch from the rocks. The swell direction is a perfect SSW, matching the optimum for this spot, but the size is the limiting factor here.

Monday July 27 drops to 7ft, still a decent SSW groundswell with a 12-13 second period, but the score is marginal. The energy is strong (1564-1655), but the quality rating is low. It’s clean, but the tide and conditions might not line up. This pattern of marginal, clean 7ft-ish swell continues Tuesday July 28, with a bit of rain on the afternoon. The swell is still there, but the quality is not exciting.

Wednesday July 29 sees the swell drop right off to 3ft-3ft, but we get a fresh offshore wind from the E on the morning. The energy is back down to 482. It’s clean, but tiny. Thursday July 30 morning is a bit better for a small wave surfer – 4ft from the SE with a 13-second period, offshore wind, and the wave comment says “expect very good surf conditions.” The energy is moderate at 574. This could be a sneaky fun session if you’re on a log or a fish. The size is small, but the quality is there.

Then we hit a rough patch. Friday July 31 through Sunday August 2 is mostly poor or marginal. The wind goes onshore, side-on, or cross, and the swell is mixed. The 8ft on August 1 afternoon is messy with side-shore wind. Not great.

Monday August 3 is a tale of two sessions. The morning is a clean but marginal 6ft S swell. But the afternoon? A 4ft swell from the SSW with a 21-second period. That’s an incredibly long period groundswell. The combined energy jumps to 1971. Even though it’s only 4ft, that period means it’s going to have a lot of push and be very clean. That’s a standout for the longer range.

The real standout for the whole forecast, though, is Tuesday August 4. Afternoon session. We’ve got a 7ft SSW swell, 17-second period, with a light offshore wind from the ENE. The combined energy is 2364 – strong. The wave comment says “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” This is the one. Good size, proper groundswell, clean offshore wind, and the swell direction is right on the money. If you’re a confident surfer on a reef, mark your calendar. The morning is also good at 7ft, but the afternoon is the pick.

Wednesday August 5 is a letdown – wind shifts and the swell drops. Thursday August 6 morning sees another 10ft pulse from the SSW (energy 2785), but again, it’s flagged as too big for this break. Expert only, and even then, it’s on the edge. The rest of the second week looks marginal or poor, with the swell dropping and the wind staying fresh.

The best bet: The standout is Tuesday August 4 afternoon at Fausse Passe. 7ft SSW groundswell with a 17-second period, clean offshore wind. This is the one to aim for. The long-range Sunday July 26 is powerful but too big for most, and the Monday August 3 afternoon has that incredible 21-second period, making it a very interesting session for the experienced.

Keep in mind, this is a reef break, and with those long periods, the sets will be powerful and clean, but you’ll have longer waits between them.

Rusty.

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