Fish Hoek Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, let's talk about what's coming up for Fish Hoek.

The opening week is a bit of a mixed bag for Fish Hoek. We’ve got a consistent pulse of SW swell rolling through, but the wind is going to be the main character for most of it. Right off the bat, Monday morning the 17th is a bit of a tease – we’ve got a clean 6 ft WSW groundswell with a solid 13-second period, and the combined energy is pushing through at a healthy 1042 (moderate). But the wind is a cross-off from the NNW, so it’s not going to be pure perfection.

The standout session early on is Monday afternoon. The swell holds at 6 ft from the WSW, period still at 13 seconds, and the energy bumps up to 1066. The wind swings to a light WSW cross-off, which cleans it right up. That’s the call for a good session.

Things get choppy from Tuesday the 18th through Friday the 21st. The wind turns cross-on from the SSE and S, picking up to 12 mph, and the swell gets a bit jumbled. The waves still push 5 ft to 7 ft, but the quality drops hard – lots of chop and poor conditions. Not worth paddling out in that mess.

Then, Saturday morning the 22nd is a real gem. The wind goes glassy – dead calm at 3 mph from the SSE – and you get a clean 5 ft SW swell with 11-second period and combined energy of 673 (moderate). That’s the kind of session you drag yourself out of bed for.

After that, the wind turns ugly again until Monday the 24th. That afternoon shows promise with a clean 5 ft SW swell, period stretching to 14 seconds, and a cross-off breeze. Energy hits 1126 (moderate), so there’s some push behind it.

A long gap of poor conditions follows until Wednesday morning, August 26th. Another glassy morning – wind from the NNW at just 3 mph, a 5 ft SW swell, 13-second period, energy at 712 (moderate). That’s your second real standout: clean, lined-up, and user-friendly.

The end of the month sees a size increase, but the wind stays cross-on or cross, so it’s rough. By Sunday the 30th, the swell is 7 ft to 8 ft from the SW, energy jumping to 1361–1771 (moderate to strong), but the cross-shore breeze and chop make it messy. For experienced surfers only, given the size and jumbled conditions.

Monday the 31st has the biggest energy of the forecast – 2256 (strong) – with a 8 ft SSW groundswell at 14 seconds, but the wind is a fresh 19 mph cross-on. That’s a lumpy, blown-out mess.

Into September, Tuesday the 1st sees a glassy calm morning with a clean 4 ft SSW swell (615 energy) – a nice little reward to close out the run.

One last note on the water: the first session on Monday the 17th, the water is sitting at 57°, which is about 3° cooler than normal for this time of year – a bit nippy, so you’ll want the steamer.

Best bets? Monday afternoon, August 17th, for the clean cross-off. And Saturday morning, August 22nd, for the glassy, clean surf.

Rusty.

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