Fish Hoek Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at the forecast for Fish Hoek over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, it’s a bit of a slow start. For the first few days, the wind is just not playing ball. We’ve got a solid push of cross-onshore wind from the SSE, and that’s killing any chance of decent waves. The water temperature is sitting at 58°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so you’ll want a good wetsuit.

Monday the 24th and Tuesday the 25th are a write-off. The swell is there, around 4 ft to 5 ft, but with that cross-onshore wind, it’s lumpy and choppy. The combined wave energy is moderate at best (400 to 1332). Not worth paddling out.

Wednesday the 26th is still onshore, with a lumpy, short-period SE swell, so that’s another day to sit out.

Now, Thursday the 27th is where we get our first real chance. The morning is still a bit marginal, but by Thursday afternoon, the wind swings around to a gentle offshore from the WNW. That’s clean surf. Swell is a modest 4 ft from the south, with a period of 11 seconds, giving it some shape. The combined energy is moderate (376). It’s not big, but it’ll be clean and rideable. Keep in mind, Fish Hoek can be inconsistent, so don’t expect a wave every minute.

Friday the 28th is back to onshore and poor. Saturday the 29th though, we get a nice little window. The morning kicks off with a light offshore from the NW, and the swell is a small 2 ft, but clean. The afternoon gets even better – a light cross-offshore from the west, with a 3 ft swell from the WSW, and a very long period of 15 seconds. That’s groundswell energy, and at Fish Hoek, that long period will wrap in nicely. The combined energy is moderate (425). This is a good one for a fun, clean session.

Sunday the 30th is a mess again. The swell jumps up to 7 ft, but the wind is a fresh cross-onshore, so it’s lumpy and messy. The combined energy is strong (1452), but it’s not for paddling.

Monday the 31st is marginal with light cross-onshore wind, and the same for the afternoon.

Now, here’s the standout. Tuesday the 1st of September. The morning session is looking excellent. We’ve got a 5 ft swell from the SW, with a period of 11 seconds, and a light cross-offshore wind from the NNW. The combined energy is moderate (780), and the conditions are clean. That’s the best surf on offer in the first week. The afternoon is also clean, but the wind picks up a bit.

Wednesday the 2nd of September gets wild. The swell spikes to 13 ft, with a very strong combined energy of 5156, but the wind is a near gale from the west. That’s a massive, dangerous swell. At 13 ft, this is strictly for experts only, and even then, the wind at 31 mph offshore makes it incredibly hard to paddle into. The afternoon is even bigger with a combined energy of 10407. This is more of a tow-in or a spectacle than a paddle session.

Thursday the 3rd of September is the real highlight of the entire forecast. The morning is clean with a light cross-offshore wind, and a massive 13 ft swell from the SW with a very long period of 16 seconds. The combined energy is very strong (8550). This is a serious, powerful groundswell. The afternoon is even better – a light offshore from the WNW, with a 12 ft swell from the WSW and a 15-second period. The combined energy is still very strong (5450), and the conditions are clean. For experienced surfers, this is an excellent, powerful session. The long period will make the sets big and clean, but the breaks will be long, so pick your lineup carefully.

Friday the 4th of September is still big, with 10 ft swell from the SSW, but the wind is a moderate cross-offshore. The combined energy is strong (3151). It’s still good, but not as pristine as Thursday.

Saturday the 5th and Sunday the 6th of September see the wind turn back onshore and strong, with the swell dropping. The rest of the second week is a write-off with strong onshore winds and small, choppy surf.

So, to sum it up: the best bets are Thursday afternoon the 27th for a clean, small session, and Saturday the 29th for a clean, fun day. The absolute standout is Thursday the 3rd of September for a massive, clean, powerful swell for experienced surfers only. The gap between the good days is a couple of days, but it’s worth waiting for.

Rusty.

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