Surf Forecasts:
Fish Hoek surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 22 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 11s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 13s period, SW swell with 1,866 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 12s period with SW 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 Wednesday (Aug 19) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 12s period. 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 2.3m 13s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 4s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 22) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 5PM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Fish Hoek over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again. Let's talk surf in feet and miles per hour for this stretch.
We’re starting off on Tuesday, 18 August, and you've got to be honest with yourself – the first week is a bit of a mixed bag. There's plenty of juice in the water, with SW swell running 5 to 7 feet, but that persistent SSE cross-onshore wind is going to chop it all up. The wave energy is strong, sitting around 1500, but it's just not clean. Thursday morning, 20 August, offers a slight glimmer with a lighter wind on that 7-foot swell, but it's still bumpy.
Then we hit Saturday, 22 August. The morning is small and ordinary at 2.5 feet with rain, but the afternoon? That’s where the switch flips. A clean 7.5-foot SW swell rolls in with a light WSW cross-offshore breeze. That’s a proper turn of events. The energy is strong at 1401 and the conditions are top-notch for the experienced crew. This is a standout window. That size is getting up there, so it's not a day for the groms. Fish Hoek is a fairly exposed beach, so that long-period groundswell might run a bit straight, but with that wind, it'll still offer some decent walls.
The following week, from Monday 25 August, the wind turns nasty again with strong SSE winds, making a mess of the waves. It stays poor right through until the end of that week, with 25 mph winds on the 28th. That's a kite day, not a paddle day. Just stay home.
Now, circle Sunday, 30 August on your calendar in permanent marker. This is the absolute gem. The morning delivers 6 feet of pure SW groundswell with an incredible 19-second period. This is the real deal, the kind that makes reefs and points sing. The wave energy is massive at 3525 (very strong). The best part? The wind is glassy. Dead flat calm. A glassy morning with that quality of swell? That is as good as it gets. The long period means long waits but perfect, powerful waves. The afternoon stays clean at 6.5 feet with a light cross-offshore. This is the one.
Monday 31 August stays clean with 5.5-foot waves and a good offshore breeze. The pattern holds into the start of September, with Tuesday, 1 September showing a chunky 8-foot swell, though the wind may start to turn a little. For the absolute best of the best, that glassy Sunday, 30 August is your winner. No question.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Tue afternoon, min 12°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Sat morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri afternoon, min 12°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | |||||||||||||||
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 12 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SW 10 | SW 11 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | SW 15 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
874 | 1374 | 1261 | 899 | 761 | 956 | 1634 | 1149 | 678 | 527 | 458 | 218 | 129 | 1326 | 1862 | 1169 | 855 | 638 | 260 | 170 | 915 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 6:47PM1.29m | 7:10AM1.10m | 7:27PM1.16m | 8:03AM0.99m | 8:29PM1.04m | 9:44AM0.92m | 10:23PM0.98m | 11:54AM0.96m | 00:06AM1.03m | 12:59PM1.06m | 1:02AM1.13m | 1:37PM1.18m | 1:41AM1.24m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:29PM0.38m | 1:07AM0.42m | 1:04PM0.50m | 1:53AM0.54m | 1:54PM0.62m | 3:16AM0.62m | 3:47PM0.71m | 5:32AM0.62m | 6:06PM0.66m | 6:46AM0.52m | 7:07PM0.56m | 7:28AM0.41m | 7:45PM0.45m | ||||||||
7:22 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | |
— | 6:16 | — | — | 6:17 | — | — | 6:19 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:21 | — | — | 6:22 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 |
Feels °C | 13 | 12 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | WSW 7 | SW 11 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | WSW 12 | SSW 9 | SW 15 |
874 | 1374 | 1261 | 899 | 761 | 956 | 1634 | 1149 | 678 | 527 | 458 | 218 | 108 | 1326 | 1862 | 1169 | 855 | 638 | 260 | 144 | 915 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 11 | WSW 11 | SW 10 | SW 17 | SW 15 | — | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | SSW 10 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 |
649 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 214 | 101 | 129 | 75 | 54 | — | 193 | 125 | 157 | 170 | 39 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 14 | S 12 |
2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 49 | 3 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | ESE 4 | — | — | — | — | — | SE 4 | ESE 5 | SE 5 | — | NNW 4 | — | — | — | — | — | SE 3 | SSE 4 | SE 4 |
— | — | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 39 | 23 | — | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 4 | 17 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 8 | 15 | 17 | 10 | 8 | 0 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 |
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.











