Surf Forecasts:
Fish Hoek surf forecast from 23 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 27 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 11s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 25 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 14s period, SW swell with 1,155 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 27 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 11s period with S 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 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 12s. 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 1.7m 14s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 5s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 29) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Tue 25th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Fish Hoek over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Righto, let’s have a look at what Fish Hoek has on offer over the next couple of weeks. The water’s sitting at 58°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so you’ll want a decent wetsuit if you’re paddling out.
The outlook starts off pretty grim, to be honest. Sunday morning the 23rd has a 5ft SW swell with a 13-second period, but it’s riddled with a cross-on breeze from the SSE. The combined energy is moderate at 816, but the conditions are marginal, and the wind just messes it up. The afternoon is much the same, with a 5ft SW swell (689 energy), still cross-on and choppy. Monday the 24th is a write-off – the swell drops to 4ft and the wind picks up, making for messy, poor surf. Tuesday the 25th sees the swell back up to 5ft from the SW with a 14-second period, but a fresh to strong cross-on breeze from the SE makes it lumpy and messy. That’s a pass from me.
We get a small window on Thursday the 27th. The morning has a clean 4ft swell from the S (11-second period, 588 energy) with a light cross-offshore breeze from the NW. The afternoon holds a 4ft S swell (382 energy) with the same clean conditions. It’s not big, but it’s the first decent surf we’ve seen, so it’s worth a look if you’re desperate.
After that, it’s pretty average again through to the end of August. Friday the 28th and Saturday the 29th have small, choppy or clean but weak surf (360-411 energy) with poor conditions. Sunday the 30th afternoon shows a promising sign – a 3ft WSW swell with a 12-second period and a moderate offshore breeze from the WNW, making for clean conditions (354 energy). That’s surfable, but nothing special.
The first few days of September see a spike in size but the wind is all wrong. Tuesday the 1st has a 7ft SW swell (1527 energy) but a strong onshore wind from the SE makes it unsurfable. Wednesday the 2nd is similar – a 7ft WSW swell (1407-1435 energy) with clean cross-offshore winds, but the size is pushing it for the crowd at Fish Hoek, and the conditions are only marginal.
The standout true option in this entire 16-day window lands on Monday the 7th of September, in the afternoon. The swell hits 8ft from the SW with a 12-second period, and the combined energy is a strong 1756. The wind is a gentle cross-offshore from the WSW, keeping the surf clean. This is excellent for experienced surfers, but at over 8ft, it’s definitely only for the crew with some time in the water. The long period groundswell will mean longer lulls between sets, so paddling out won’t be as hectic as it looks, but the waves themselves will have plenty of punch.
No other break is given, so we’re stuck with Fish Hoek. There are gaps of a few days with no recommendations, like from Sunday the 23rd through to Wednesday the 26th, but the forecast can always change. For now, keep your eye on that Monday the 7th afternoon session – it’s the only real standout on offer.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Tue afternoon, min 12°C on Sun morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSE on Sun morning, strong winds from the SE by Tue afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Fri night, min 13°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | |||||||||||||||
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 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | SW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
816 | 689 | 514 | 393 | 203 | 1077 | 1063 | 874 | 495 | 313 | 346 | 458 | 426 | 295 | 289 | 229 | 206 | 264 | 239 | 290 | 299 | |
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-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 12:59PM1.06m | 1:02AM1.13m | 1:37PM1.18m | 1:41AM1.24m | 2:08PM1.31m | 2:13AM1.33m | 2:37PM1.42m | 2:44AM1.41m | 3:05PM1.52m | 3:14AM1.47m | 3:33PM1.59m | 3:44AM1.50m | 4:01PM1.63m | 4:15AM1.50m | |||||||
Low Tide | 7:07PM0.56m | 7:28AM0.41m | 7:45PM0.45m | 7:59AM0.31m | 8:17PM0.34m | 8:28AM0.21m | 8:47PM0.25m | 8:55AM0.14m | 9:15PM0.16m | 9:22AM0.08m | 9:44PM0.10m | 9:49AM0.06m | 10:14PM0.07m | ||||||||
7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | |
— | 6:21 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:23 | — | — | 6:23 | — | — | 6:24 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 |
Temp °C | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 22 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 23 | 24 | 19 | 16 |
Feels °C | 11 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 13 | 20 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 21 | 18 | 13 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 10 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SE 8 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 |
816 | 689 | 514 | 393 | 189 | 1077 | 1063 | 874 | 495 | 148 | 183 | 176 | 426 | 295 | 289 | 229 | 141 | 264 | 239 | 290 | 299 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SW 14 | WSW 11 | W 11 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SSW 11 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | SW 13 | SW 14 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | SSE 10 |
— | — | — | 48 | 138 | 89 | 100 | 86 | 51 | 170 | 157 | 247 | 53 | 49 | 40 | 46 | 206 | 152 | 116 | 58 | 35 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | SW 14 | — | — | — | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | WSW 12 | S 15 | SW 15 | SW 11 | SSE 14 | SE 5 | ESE 6 | SE 7 | E 7 |
— | — | — | — | 203 | — | — | — | 83 | 100 | 196 | 86 | 109 | 38 | 56 | 30 | 62 | 11 | 24 | 12 | 1 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SE 3 | SE 4 | SSE 4 | SE 4 | SE 5 | SSE 6 | SE 7 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | — | NW 3 | NW 3 | — | SE 3 | SE 4 | N 3 | NW 6 | WNW 4 |
— | — | 2 | 6 | 8 | 28 | 74 | 154 | 404 | 313 | 346 | 458 | — | 2 | 1 | — | 2 | 4 | 5 | 77 | 7 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 8 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 15 | 25 | 25 | 401 | 25 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 74 | 176 | 341 |
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.











