Fausse Passe Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, it’s Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for Fausse Passe over the next couple of weeks. It’s a reef setup that’s exposed to the SW, so it needs the right angle to really fire. There’s a bit of a slow start, but the second half of the outlook is where things get interesting.

Straight up, the first few days are a bit of a grind. We’ve got some small SSW swell coming in on Tuesday the 21st, around 4ft, but the wind is a stiff cross-off at 15 mph. The combined energy is moderate at 750, but it’s just not lining up right – the conditions are marginal. Wednesday and Thursday are similar, with wind staying fresh and cross-off, and the swell bumping up to 6ft but with a short period around 8-10 seconds. Not the kind of wave that’ll make you rush to get wet.

Friday the 24th morning is our first real glimmer of hope. The wind swings light offshore from the east at 6 mph, and there’s a clean 5ft SE swell with a moderate 10-second period. The energy is a bit weak at 575, but that offshore breeze will tidy it right up. It’s a small window of clean surface conditions, but the swell is on the smaller side.

The weekend takes a turn for the messy. Saturday the 25th is a write-off with weak, cross-shore winds and small, poor-quality surf. The real story, though, is Sunday the 26th. A big pulse of SSW groundswell rolls in, pushing 10ft in the morning and 12ft in the afternoon. The period is a very long 16-15 seconds, and the combined energy is massive – over 4600 and 5000. That’s heavy, powerful water. But here’s the thing: for a reef like Fausse Passe, that’s simply too big. It’s predicted to be too big for this break, and with a cross-off wind, it’s going to be dangerous and unruly. This is expert-only territory, and honestly, it’s probably more of a spectacle than a surf session.

We get a bit of a breather Monday the 27th and Tuesday the 28th as the swell drops back to 8ft and 6ft, with a long period still. Winds remain cross-off and moderate. It’s clean, but the tides and conditions keep it marginal. Not a standout, but a solid option for experienced surfers who can handle the reef.

Now, the real standout appears on Thursday the 31st of July and into the first days of August. On the 31st, we’ve got an 8ft SSW groundswell with a very long period of 17-18 seconds. The wind is offshore from the east at 19-22 mph, and the energy is a huge 4500+. The file calls it “fresh offshore and clean.” That’s a proper, powerful, well-shaped wave. The size is right at the top end for advanced surfers, but the wind and swell combo is beautiful.

Then, on Saturday the 1st of August, things get wild. The swell is still 10ft with a 17-second period, but the wind goes glassy – a light NNW breeze at 3 mph. The energy is up at 5100. The caveat is the same: it’s a big swell for this reef, and it’s predicted to be too big for the break. But if you’re an expert and you know the wave, the conditions are absolutely perfect. The glassy surface and that powerful groundswell will make for some epic, long, clean barrels. The wind is light and variable, so it’s a real treat for those who can handle it.

The following week is a bit of a mixed bag, with the swell slowly easing. Monday the 4th of August is the other highlight. A 7ft S swell with a 16-second period, light cross-off wind from the ESE, and a combined energy of 3418. This is described as “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” It’s a more manageable size than the 10ft spikes, and the conditions are clean. Wednesday the 5th also looks good with an 8ft S swell and a moderate offshore wind from the ENE.

So, to wrap it up: the first week is a slow burn. The two true standouts are the morning of Thursday the 31st of July and the glassy morning of Saturday the 1st of August, though be warned that the 1st sees a swell that’s likely too big for most. For a more accessible, yet still excellent, session, the morning of Monday the 4th of August is your best bet. This is a reef that’s consistent, but it’s for advanced crew only. If you’re not comfortable in big, long-period groundswell on a shallow reef, sit this one out.

Rusty, signing off.

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