Fish Hoek Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. Rusty here.

Look, I’m gonna be straight with you – the next 16 days around Fish Hoek are a real mixed bag, and honestly, there’s not a whole lot of glory on the table. We’ve got one or two flashes of potential, but you’re gonna have to read the conditions carefully and pick your windows. The swell is coming in at a decent size, but the wind is gonna be a grumpy bastard for most of the run.

The best bet on offer is the morning of Thursday the 10th of September. We’ve got a clean 4ft swell rolling in from the southwest, with a solid 12-second period. The kicker is the wind – it’s dead glassy, light as a feather. That’s the sort of session where you’ll be scratching your head wondering why you don’t live in the water. The combined energy is moderate at 433, nothing mental, but it’s going to be tidy and user-friendly. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, not weird.

Another standout window is the morning of Sunday the 6th of September. We’ve got 5ft from the southwest with a very long period of 18-seconds. That’s a proper groundswell. The combined energy is strong, sitting at 1963, so there’s plenty of grunt behind it. The wind is light and onshore in the morning, but it’s worth a paddle. Just be mindful that long-period swell like that can close out the beach breaks; it’ll be better if you can find a bank or a corner that handles it. It’s a promising call, but like any long-range look, keep your expectations in check.

Now, the rest of the forecast is a bit of a slog. Wednesday the 2nd and Thursday the 3rd are marginal at best with cross-shore winds and mediocre quality. Then from Thursday afternoon the 3rd through to the end of the first week, we’re dealing with strong onshore winds – 28 to 37 mph – tearing up 7ft to 10ft swells. The wave energy is decent (up to 1829), but the wind is making it unrideable for a paddle board. To be honest, it’s looking more like a kite surfer’s playground than a surfer’s. The crowds at Fish Hoek are often there, but with this wind, I doubt you’ll have to worry about company.

The second week from Monday the 7th is pretty weak. The swell drops off to under 3ft for a few days, with clean winds but barely any push. The afternoon of Wednesday the 9th and the morning of Thursday the 10th we already covered are the only real chances. By the time we hit the weekend of the 12th and 13th, the swell comes back up a bit (6ft to 8ft), but the wind is cross-on again, and the period is short or messy. The 14th onwards just gets ugly with fresh to strong breezes.

So, bottom line: if you’re keen, pencil in the morning of Thursday the 10th as your best shot. The 6th is worth a look for the power. Otherwise, you’re better off waiting for the next system to roll through. Forecasts can always change, but this one’s not looking like a classic.

– Rusty

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