
Surf Forecasts:
Fish Hoek surf forecast from 16 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 21 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 14s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 23 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 16s period, SW swell with 3,929 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 17 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 12s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Fish Hoek this week:
The surf forecast for Fish Hoek over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 17) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 12s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Fish Hoek in the next 16 days are 3.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 23) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.5m 7s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Fri 17th Jul) | 5ft (1.5m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Tue 21st Jul) | 7ft (2.1m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Thu 23rd Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Fish Hoek over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Yo, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s going down at Fish Hoek for the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, the first few days are a bit slow, but come Tuesday the 21st, things start to fire up. We’ve got a solid run of swell building into the end of next week, with some real standout sessions. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing unusual.
Friday the 17th is a gentle start. Fish Hoek is seeing a 4.3ft SW swell with 11-second period, and it’s glassy – dead calm wind. That’s clean, user-friendly surf for the beginners, but the energy is moderate (417). It’s a nice intro, but not the headline. Friday afternoon stays glassy with a 3.9ft SW swell, still mellow.
Saturday the 18th holds clean with a 3.6ft SW swell in the morning, cross-off wind, and a 3.9ft SW swell in the afternoon with offshore wind. Periods go from 9 to 12 seconds, so the shape improves. Consistency is fairly consistent here, so it’s a decent weekend for the learners.
Sunday the 19th is clean again, clear skies, 3.6ft to 3.9ft SW swell, cross-off breeze. Nice, smooth, easy-going.
Monday the 20th drops off – 2.6ft to 2.0ft SW swell, glassy and offshore, but the energy is weak (213 and 164). It’s surfable but ordinary, not worth rushing out for.
Now, Tuesday the 21st is where it gets interesting. Morning glassy with a 4.6ft SW swell, 14-second period, and the energy jumps to 819 – that’s moderate to strong. Afternoon goes 5.9ft SW, same long period, and offshore wind, energy over 1300. This is good, clean, powerful surf. The optimum swell direction is SE, but SW is still working nicely here. You’ll want to be in the water.
Wednesday the 22nd is a mixed bag. Morning has rain showers and a fresh 30 km/h cross-off wind, 5.6ft SW swell, but the energy is still strong (1034). The wind is punchy, so it’s gonna be a bit bumpy, but the afternoon cleans up – 5.2ft SW, offshore wind, 13-second period, energy 847, and it’s clean. Worth a session if you don’t mind a bit of breeze.
Thursday the 23rd is the pick of the whole run. Morning is clean, 5.9ft SW swell, 12-second period, light cross-off breeze, energy 1313. Then Thursday afternoon – hold onto your board. 8.2ft SW swell, 17-second period, offshore wind, and the energy is a massive 3908. That’s excellent, powerful groundswell. This is for experienced surfers only – it’s big, long-period, and will be cranking. The long period means it’ll wall up nicely at a point or reef, but at a beach break like Fish Hoek, it might close out a bit. Still, it’s a standout.
Friday the 24th sees the swell drop a touch but still solid – 6.9ft to 7.2ft SW swell, long periods (15 and 14 seconds), but the wind shifts to a cross-onshore 15-20 km/h, making it choppy. Energy is still high (1920 and 2267), but the quality is marginal. Not the best day.
Saturday the 25th and Sunday the 26th are a write-off. Strong onshore and cross-onshore winds, big messy swell (9.8ft on Saturday, 9.8ft on Sunday), energy through the roof (5232, 6861), but the conditions are poor. Kite surfers might have a ball, but for paddle surfing, it’s a no-go.
Monday the 27th is a recovery day – 4.6ft SW swell, but the wind is light cross-onshore, and the energy drops to 879. Marginal, but you could find a clean wave if you pick your spot.
Tuesday the 28th is another highlight. Morning glassy, 3.0ft SW swell with a 19-second period – that’s very long period groundswell. Energy is 800, moderate. Afternoon is clean, 3.9ft SW swell, 17-second period, cross-off breeze. The swell is small, but the period is so long it’ll have real push. Best suited for a reef or point break, but at Fish Hoek it’ll be clean and glassy. Good for a cruise.
Wednesday the 29th stays clean with 3.9ft SW swell, 15-second period, but a moderate 20 km/h cross-off wind keeps it a bit windy. Energy is 680. Still surfable.
Thursday the 30th fades to 3.0ft to 2.6ft SW swell, 12-second period, offshore wind – ordinary but clean.
Friday the
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri afternoon, min 14°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Wed morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon afternoon, min 13°C on Wed morning). Winds increasing (calm on Mon morning, fresh winds from the NNW by Wed morning). | ||||||||||||||||||
Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | ||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 10 | SW 10 | SW 9 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 9 | SW 10 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
614 | 414 | 290 | 208 | 192 | 184 | 244 | 349 | 326 | 320 | 95 | 85 | 99 | 799 | 1307 | 1595 | 1029 | 825 | 888 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | glassy | glassy | glassy | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | glassy | off | glassy | glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off |
High Tide | 5:11AM1.48m | 5:38PM1.59m | 5:54AM1.39m | 6:19PM1.52m | 6:36AM1.28m | 7:00PM1.42m | 7:21AM1.17m | 7:44PM1.31m | 8:13AM1.07m | 8:35PM1.19m | 9:19AM1.00m | 9:42PM1.11m | |||||||
Low Tide | 11:11PM0.10m | 11:21AM0.07m | 11:55PM0.15m | 12:00PM0.16m | 00:39AM0.24m | 12:39PM0.27m | 1:24AM0.34m | 1:20PM0.39m | 2:13AM0.43m | 2:07PM0.50m | 3:13AM0.51m | 3:12PM0.60m | 4:33AM0.55m | ||||||
— | 7:48 | — | — | 7:48 | — | — | 7:48 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | |
5:54 | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:59 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 15 |
Feels °C | 15 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 10 | SW 10 | SW 9 | SW 9 | S 10 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 9 | SW 10 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 12 |
614 | 414 | 290 | 208 | 192 | 123 | 145 | 349 | 326 | 320 | 95 | 85 | 92 | 799 | 1307 | 1595 | 1029 | 825 | 888 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 12 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | SW 12 | SSE 9 | S 10 | W 10 | SSW 11 | SW 8 | SSW 16 | W 9 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | S 13 |
— | 3 | 4 | 51 | 98 | 146 | 244 | 45 | 31 | 29 | 81 | 40 | 99 | 14 | 20 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 14 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | E 11 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 12 | WSW 11 | W 11 | SE 9 | SE 9 | S 9 | S 9 | SW 8 | SE 11 | W 9 | — | — | S 15 | SE 11 |
— | — | 2 | 10 | 93 | 184 | 93 | 57 | 21 | 12 | 37 | 39 | 28 | 20 | 14 | — | — | 17 | 5 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 3 | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 9 | NW 3 | NNW 5 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | NNW 3 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 62 | 2 | 24 | 198 | 173 | 2 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 268 | 0 | 1 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Cape Town | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
Information about the Fish Hoek Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Fish Hoek provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Fish Hoek can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Fish Hoek surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Fish Hoek) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Fish Hoek may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Are you planning a holiday in Cape Town? If you are looking for accommodation near Fish Hoek, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Cape Town, consider staying in Cape Town which is 22 km (14 miles) away. Other places in and around Cape Town where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Bellville which is 31 km (19 miles) away, Robben Island, Stellenbosch and Kayamnandi.










