Fish Hoek Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, folks. Rusty here. Let’s have a proper look at what’s coming down the line for the next couple of weeks.

Alright, to be straight with you, the next few days are pretty grim. It’s a real battle just to find a wave worth paddling for. The good stuff doesn’t really kick in until the back end of the first week, so we’ve got a bit of a waiting game on our hands. Most of the early windows are plagued by crummy winds, even when there’s a bit of swell in the water.

The combined wave energy (422) for the first Friday afternoon is weak, and the wind is just a mess. We get a few pulses of bigger swell around the 30th and 31st of August, with some readings over 3 feet up to nearly 6 feet, but that’s all blown out by strong cross-onshore winds. Not the sort of day to be getting excited about. Same story for the start of September – the combined energy jumps right up (1067) on the Tuesday morning with a 6ft SW swell at a decent 13 seconds, and the wind goes light cross-off, which is a big step up. The water temp here at Fish Hoek is sitting about 58°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so don’t forget the booties.

That Tuesday the 1st of September is the first real glimmer of hope. The morning session is the standout: a clean 6ft groundswell from the SW with a long period of 13 seconds. The combined energy is solid (1067), and with a light cross-off breeze, it’s going to be glassy. This is the pick of the first week. The swell direction from the SW is a bit off the optimum SE, but for clean, lined-up waves at Fish Hoek, that light wind makes all the difference. The afternoon goes a little lumpy as the wind swings cross-shore.

The rest of that week is a write-off, honestly. The 2nd of September sees the swell jump to 8ft (3235 energy) but with howling onshore winds – that’s an expert-only situation, if anyone even bothers. Then we get an absolute gale on the 3rd and 4th with massive SE swell and near-gale force winds. Forget paddle surfing, that looks more like a kitesurfing scene.

We do get a little breather on the morning of the 6th of September. A clean 3ft SW swell with a very long period of 18 seconds and a light cross-off wind. That long period will wrap into the bay nicely, but keep in mind it might break a bit straight on the sandbanks. Still, for a Sunday morning paddle, it’s a good chance.

Now, look ahead to the 11th of September. The Friday afternoon is shaping up as a proper standout. We’ve got a 5ft groundswell from the WSW, a solid period of 15 seconds, and a combined energy of 1252. The wind is light and clean. This has the makings of a very good session. The Saturday after is surfable but a bit messier with that cross-onshore wind.

So, to sum it up: the long wait is for the first Tuesday (1st September) morning and then the second Friday (11th September) afternoon. Those are your windows. The rest is either blown out, too big and messy, or just flat. Keep your eyes on those dates. It’s been a rough start, but it won’t stay this way forever.

Rusty.

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