Surf Forecasts:
Fish Hoek surf forecast from 26 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 1 Sep, 5PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 1 Sep, 5PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period, SW swell with 2,925 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 27 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 11s period with SSW 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 Thursday (Aug 27) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 8s. 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 14s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 5PM (Tue 1st Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Tue 1st Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Fish Hoek over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what Fish Hoek has in store for us over the next 16 days.
Alright, looking at the overall picture, it’s a real mixed bag. We’re starting off with a few days of clean, workable little waves, but then a big, powerful swell shows up, and it gets blown to bits by strong onshore winds. The second week is pretty grim, with a few tiny, clean moments but nothing to get excited about. There’s a standout session right at the start of the first week if you can get out, and then a big, powerful window for the brave boys about a week from now.
The water temp is sitting at 59°, which is about 1° cooler than normal for this time of year. Nothing dramatic, just a bit of a nip in the air.
Let’s start right at the beginning. Wednesday the 26th is a bit of a write-off. The morning has a clean 4ft SW swell with a 13-second period, but the wind is onshore, giving us poor surf. The afternoon is even smaller and marginal. Not worth paddling out.
Skip to Thursday the 27th. Now we’re talking. The morning sees a 4ft S swell (12 seconds) with a light offshore NW wind, and the forecast is good. This is a proper session for the longboard or a fun mid-length. The afternoon is similar, though the wind goes cross-off, but it’s still clean. This is our best early bet.
Friday the 28th is the highlight of the first week. The morning is absolutely glassy, with a light ENE breeze, and a 3ft S swell (11 seconds). The energy is weak (279), but it will be clean as a whistle. The water will be like glass. This is the one to get out for. The afternoon gets a bit lumpy with a cross-shore wind, so hit the morning session.
Saturday the 29th has a promising morning with a 3ft WSW swell, long period of 16 seconds, and a light cross-off breeze. The energy is moderate (573). That long period means the swell will have shape and power, but it might be a bit straight at the beach break. The afternoon, however, sees a jump in size to 6ft but with a 12 mph cross-shore wind and rain. It’s a messy, choppy mess.
Sunday the 30th is a bit of a washout. A solid 6ft SW swell (13 seconds) but the wind is cross-onshore, ruining the surface. The energy is moderate (1048). Not worth the drive.
Monday the 31st is a return to cleaner conditions. The morning has a 4ft WSW swell with a light cross-off breeze and clean waves. A good, solid session. The afternoon is a bit smaller but still clean.
Now, here’s the big one. Tuesday the 1st of September. The morning has a pumping 8ft SW swell, but a strong 22 mph cross-off wind. That’s a lot of wind. The afternoon, however, is the standout of the entire forecast. The swell jumps to 10ft, with a 14-second period, and a light offshore WNW wind. The energy is very strong (2925). This is serious groundswell, and the wind is perfect. This is for experienced surfers only, as anything over 8ft is a handful. If you’ve got the skills, this is the session to circle. The long period will be great for the point, but it might be a bit too straight for the beach.
Everything after that goes downhill fast. Wednesday the 2nd through to Saturday the 5th of September is a write-off. Strong onshore winds, massive, messy swell, and rain. The swell gets up to 15ft on the 3rd and 4th, but with near gale-force onshore winds, it’s a complete blowout. This is more kite-surfing territory than paddle surfing.
There’s a big gap of poor conditions from the 2nd to the 5th. Then we get a slight reprieve on Sunday the 6th, but the wind is still onshore, so it’s poor.
Finally, the second week offers a few tiny, clean moments. Monday the 7th of September has a 2ft SW swell with a light cross-off wind. It’s surfable, but very ordinary. Tuesday the 8th is similar – tiny and clean, but hardly worth suiting up. The energy is under 150 most of the time. The action picks up again on Wednesday the 9th with a 3ft to 4ft WSW swell, but the period is short at 8-9 seconds, so the waves will be weak and crumbly. The wind is cross-off, so it’s clean, but it’s just small, weak junk.
The forecast ends on Thursday the 10th of September with a big, powerful 8ft SW swell (14 seconds) but a strong onshore wind, making it completely unsurfable.
So, to wrap it up, your best bets are the glassy Friday morning on the 28th of August, and the powerful, offshore afternoon on Tuesday the 1st of September for the experienced crew. The rest is a whole lot of waiting for the wind to play nice.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Wed afternoon, min 12°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Sat afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat morning, min 12°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SW 13 | SE 8 | SSW 11 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 16 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
352 | 196 | 229 | 384 | 305 | 240 | 188 | 253 | 215 | 419 | 1332 | 309 | 1028 | 928 | 464 | 359 | 273 | 457 | 2261 | 2925 | 1863 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | glassy | off | cross-off | glassy | glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off |
High Tide | 2:37PM1.42m | 2:44AM1.41m | 3:05PM1.52m | 3:14AM1.47m | 3:33PM1.59m | 3:44AM1.50m | 4:01PM1.63m | 4:15AM1.50m | 4:31PM1.63m | 4:48AM1.47m | 5:03PM1.60m | 5:22AM1.41m | 5:38PM1.52m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:28AM0.21m | 8:47PM0.25m | 8:55AM0.14m | 9:15PM0.16m | 9:22AM0.08m | 9:44PM0.10m | 9:49AM0.06m | 10:14PM0.07m | 10:18AM0.07m | 10:45PM0.07m | 10:48AM0.10m | 11:18PM0.11m | 11:22AM0.17m | 11:55PM0.19m | |||||||
7:13 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | |
— | 6:22 | — | — | 6:23 | — | — | 6:23 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:25 | — | — | 6:27 | — | — | 6:27 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 16 | 17 | 20 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 15 |
Feels °C | 12 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 14 | 16 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 7 | 9 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | WSW 13 | WSW 16 | SW 14 | WSW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 |
352 | 180 | 229 | 384 | 305 | 240 | 188 | 138 | 215 | 419 | 742 | 309 | 1028 | 928 | 464 | 359 | 273 | 457 | 2261 | 2925 | 1863 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SW 12 | SE 8 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 14 | S 10 | S 11 | S 11 | SSE 11 | S 11 | SSE 10 | S 8 | S 7 | S 6 | SSE 7 | — | — | — |
146 | 154 | 69 | 88 | 70 | 47 | 45 | 253 | 72 | 118 | 62 | 39 | 20 | 10 | 80 | 24 | 12 | 5 | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | SSW 16 | SW 12 | WSW 12 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 13 | S 14 | SSE 13 | SSE 14 | SSE 11 | — | — | SSE 10 | S 10 | SE 7 | SSE 8 | — | — | — | — |
75 | 196 | 147 | 158 | 11 | 57 | 46 | 34 | 58 | 36 | 40 | — | — | 10 | 8 | 2 | 6 | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SE 8 | — | WNW 3 | W 3 | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 14 | SW 8 | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 4 | N 3 | NW 3 | — |
269 | 191 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1332 | 248 | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 5 | 4 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 10 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 202 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Cape Town | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











