Fish Hoek Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty. Let’s have a look at what we’ve got on the cards for Fish Hoek.

Right now, we’re looking at a pretty slow start, I gotta be honest. Monday and Tuesday are a write-off for any real fun. The swell is tiny, under 3 feet, and while the wind is light and glassy at times, the conditions are just too ordinary to get excited about. It’s a flat start, so don’t bother paddling out just yet.

Then things change. Wednesday morning, the 15th of July, is where it starts to get interesting. We’ve got a new SW groundswell rolling in, 4 ft, with a very long period of 17 seconds. The energy is solid, clocking in at 800 (moderate wave energy). The wind is light and cross-offshore, keeping the surface clean. This is a proper groundswell, so it’ll be offering up some nice, shaped waves, but that long period means it might wall up a bit on the beach. For the experienced crew, though, it’s going to be a session.

Wednesday afternoon is the standout, no question. The swell builds to 7 ft from the SW, period still a very long 15 seconds, and the energy jumps to a massive 1823 (strong to very strong wave energy). The wind goes light and cross-offshore again. This is excellent, powerful surf, but at 7 ft it’s getting into the “experts only” territory. If you’re not ready for that kind of size and energy, give it a miss. For those who are, it’s the pick of the whole outlook.

Thursday keeps the swell going, with 5 ft to 6 ft from the SW and longer periods of 13 seconds, with glassy conditions in the morning and offshore winds in the afternoon. The energy is strong, between 790 and 1172. This is still very good, clean surf for experienced surfers.

Friday is a mess. The wind swings onshore and the swell drops, turning the ocean into a choppy, cross-onshore mess. Don’t bother.

Saturday the 18th brings a reprieve. The swell backs off to a clean 3 ft from the south, period 12 seconds, with glassy morning conditions and offshore winds in the afternoon. The energy is moderate at 295. This drops the size back into fun, manageable territory for a broader range of surfers. A good, clean session for a weekend morning.

Sunday gets tricky again with a cross-onshore wind and a lumpy swell. Nothing to write home about.

The start of the next week, the 20th and 21st of July, is messy. Monday is pitifully small, and Tuesday the 21st sees a big jump in swell to 7 ft from the SSW, but it’s blown out by a strong 16 mph cross-offshore wind. The conditions are “marginal” – weirdly, the wind is clean but the forecast has a question mark over the tide and quality. It’s a powerful swell (1648 energy), but not a sure thing.

Wednesday the 22nd is the biggest of the whole forecast, with 8 ft to 10 ft SW swell and an energy reading of 2561. The wind is offshore, but this is pure heavy-water territory. Only for the very experienced, and even then, with strong wind, it’s a wild card.

From there, the swell stays solid into the 24th but the wind remains strong and cross-offshore, keeping the surface clean but the conditions “marginal.” By the 25th and 26th, the wind goes onshore and it’s all over. Rubbish.

The very end of the outlook, the 27th and 28th of July, offers a glimmer. Monday morning, the 27th, the wind drops to glassy, the swell is a clean 4 ft from the SW with a 12-second period and moderate energy (507). That’s a promising, clean session for a Monday sunrise.

So, the standout of the whole period is Wednesday afternoon, the 15th of July. It’s not for everyone, but for the crew who know what they’re doing, that’s the session. The second best would be Saturday morning, the 18th, for a cleaner, more manageable surf.

Water temperature at Fish Hoek is 60°F, which is about normal for this time of year, nothing unusual.

This is Rusty, signing off.

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