Fausse Passe Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's talk about what the next couple of weeks are looking like for our local stretch.

The picture here is a bit of a mixed bag, with some serious size early on that will only be for the brave and experienced. We've got a big, powerful swell rolling in right from the start, and the water is sitting at a pretty standard 72°F for this time of year, so no surprises there.

Saturday, September 12th (Afternoon)
We kick off with a bang, but it’s a heavy one. Fausse Passe is going to be absolutely pumping with a solid 12ft SSW groundswell, boasting a very long 16-second period and a massive combined energy of 6000. That's a lot of power in the water. However, this is a reef break, and at that size, it’s strictly for advanced crew only. The wind is howling out of the SE at 19 mph, which keeps it cross-off and the surface clean, but the sheer volume of water makes this a serious, no-joke session. If you're not absolutely on your game, sit this one out.

Sunday, September 13th (Morning & Afternoon)
Sunday still holds plenty of size, though it backs off a tad. The morning sees a 8ft S swell at 14 seconds, but the tide and conditions look questionable, and it's still carrying moderate energy (3112). The afternoon kicks back up to a 10ft SSW swell with a very long 18-second period and strong energy (5717), but again, it's borderline too big and the wind stays a fresh cross-off at 19 mph. This window is for the big-wave specialists only.

We then hit a pretty bleak stretch. From Monday afternoon all the way through Thursday, September 17th, the conditions are messy. The swell drops off significantly, dropping below 3ft by Thursday, but a fresh to strong cross-off wind combined with poor surf quality ratings makes it a write-off. It’s a gap of a few days where you’re better off doing something else.

Friday, September 18th (Morning & Afternoon)
The swell starts to rebuild, but the wind turns nasty. We’re looking at a lumpy, 7ft to 10ft SSW swell, but with a strong cross-onshore wind component. The wave state is described as "fresh cross-onshore and lumpy," which is not what you want. This looks more like a day for the kite surfers to have a field day than for a clean paddle session.

Saturday, September 19th (Morning & Afternoon)
This is where it gets wild again, but not in a good way for most. The morning brings a massive 13ft SSW swell with a period of 13 seconds and a colossal combined energy of 9952. The wind is cross-onshore, making it choppy and heavy. Total monster-charge territory. The afternoon settles down a little to 10ft, with cross-shore winds, but the big-wave warnings still stand.

Sunday September 20th through the end of the forecast
The rest of the period looks like a waiting game. From Sunday the 20th through to the 27th, we have a lot of "marginal" surf days. Swell heights bounce between 3ft and 8ft, mostly from the SSW. The wind stays predominantly cross-off from the ESE or SE, keeping the surface clean, but the wave forecasts are consistently poor or marginal, with a lot of readings in the 400 to 3000 range for combined energy. There's nothing here that stands out as a must-surf session. The highlight, if you can call it that, is Monday, September 21st, with a clean 8ft SSW groundswell (15 second period) and gentle cross-off winds (9 mph) in the morning. It’s a consistent spot, Fausse Passe, so it might have a few, but it’s not shaping up to be epic.

So, the best bet? Frankly, there isn't a single standout classic day in this whole run. The best on offer is likely the morning of Monday, September 21st, for someone who wants a clean, moderately sized wave (8ft SSW) without the chaos of the earlier giant swell. It's a solid, surtable size, but nothing to write home about, and the crowds might be around as it's a known spot.

Keep your eyes on the charts, because it tends not to stay flat for long here.

- Rusty

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