
Surf Forecasts:
Fish Hoek surf forecast from 19 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 24 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 16s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 23 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 16s period, SSW swell with 5,027 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 19 Jul, 2PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 10s period with WSW 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 Sunday (Jul 19) at 2PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.1m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 1.6m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 10s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore 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 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 10s period and expected on Monday (Jul 20) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2PM (Sun 19th Jul) | 7ft (2.1m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Fri 24th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Thu 23rd Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Fish Hoek over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get stuck into this one.
First off, Fish Hoek is our only show in town for the next 16 days. The water’s sitting at 59.5°, which is bang on average for this time of year, so nothing unusual there.
The first real sign of life comes in on Sunday the 19th. It’s a bit of a slow starter with a 4.3ft WSW swell at 12 seconds, but the wind is a light cross-off. It’s surfable, but honestly, it’s more of a warm-up paddle. The real juice starts to build on Monday morning the 21st. That’s where we see a 5.6ft SSW groundswell arriving with a period of 14 seconds and glassy conditions. The combined energy jumps right up to 1084, so you’ll feel the power. That’s the pick of the early part of the week.
But hold on. Thursday afternoon the 23rd is a proper standout. We’re looking at a 7.5ft SW swell with a very long 16-second period, under glassy skies. The combined energy is a massive 2709. This is solid, powerful groundswell. For a spot like Fish Hoek, that long period means it’s going to bend in nicely, but at this size, it’s for experienced surfers only. Beginners, sit this one out. The Friday morning the 24th is almost a carbon copy at 7.9ft, still glassy, with a 14-second period and energy of 2309. That Thursday arvo and Friday morning window is the absolute best on offer.
We then hit a rough patch. From Saturday the 25th through to around Wednesday the 29th, the wind turns nasty from the SSE and SE, consistently cross-onshore or onshore, making a mess of things. The swell stays around 5ft to 6ft, but it’s choppy and lumpy. Not worth the drive.
Things clean up again on Thursday afternoon the 30th. It’s a smaller swell, 3.9ft from the SSW, but with glassy conditions and a 13-second period, giving us a clean 848 energy. That’s a nice, mellow afternoon session.
The first few days of August look a bit average. Saturday the 1st has a 7.9ft SE swell, but the period is short at 9 seconds, and it’s cross-off. That’s a lot of lumpy, weak energy for the size. Sunday the 2nd is smaller and cleaner, with a 4.3ft SSE swell and cross-off winds, which is a better call for a fun, cruisy morning.
The run then fades out into the first week of August with small, onshore slop.
So, the crystal clear winner here is Thursday afternoon the 23rd and Friday morning the 24th. Get that 7.5ft+ SW groundswell with glassy, offshore winds. It’s big, it’s clean, and it’s powerful. The rest of the window is a mix of clean but smaller, or windy and messy. The only other real glassy highlight is the small but clean session on Thursday the 30th.
Stay stoked, and don't sleep on that Thursday-Friday window.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon afternoon, min 13°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu afternoon, min 12°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | 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) | WSW 12 | SW 10 | SW 10 | SW 9 | SW 8 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
491 | 569 | 576 | 211 | 68 | 215 | 1065 | 1218 | 903 | 656 | 572 | 383 | 563 | 2594 | 4531 | 2296 | 1712 | 1547 | 1083 | 838 | 584 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 7:00PM1.42m | 7:21AM1.17m | 7:44PM1.31m | 8:13AM1.07m | 8:35PM1.19m | 9:19AM1.00m | 9:42PM1.11m | 10:47AM0.97m | 11:04PM1.08m | 12:11PM1.01m | 00:19AM1.11m | 1:10PM1.09m | 1:14AM1.17m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:39PM0.27m | 1:24AM0.34m | 1:20PM0.39m | 2:13AM0.43m | 2:07PM0.50m | 3:13AM0.51m | 3:12PM0.60m | 4:33AM0.55m | 4:45PM0.64m | 5:56AM0.53m | 6:15PM0.61m | 6:59AM0.47m | 7:15PM0.54m | ||||||||
7:48 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | |
— | 5:57 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | |
mm | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 16 |
Feels °C | 11 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | SW 10 | SW 10 | SW 9 | SW 8 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 |
54 | 569 | 576 | 211 | 68 | 215 | 1065 | 1218 | 903 | 656 | 572 | 383 | 563 | 2594 | 4531 | 2296 | 1712 | 1547 | 1083 | 838 | 584 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 11 | S 10 | S 10 | SW 11 | SW 10 | SW 12 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SSW 12 | SE 13 | WSW 13 | SE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | — | SSW 14 | — | S 12 |
37 | 17 | 16 | 61 | 53 | 120 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 5 | 5 | 30 | 7 | 101 | 22 | 13 | 12 | — | 433 | — | 101 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SSE 9 | SE 9 | W 10 | S 8 | SW 7 | W 9 | W 9 | — | — | SE 14 | SE 13 | — | ESE 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 6 |
3 | 8 | 12 | 29 | 32 | 33 | 25 | 6 | — | — | 8 | 7 | — | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 15 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 12 | — | — | — | W 10 | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 3 | NNW 4 | — | — | — | — | — | SE 4 | SE 5 | SSE 6 | SE 6 |
491 | — | — | — | 45 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | 21 | 51 | 108 | 49 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 25 | 9 | 25 | 8 |
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.










