Fish Hoek Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks. Rusty here. Let’s have a look at this 16-day run for Fish Hoek. It’s a bit of a slow burn, with a couple of real gems if you’re willing to wait.

Right off the bat, the first few days are a tough slog. Friday 28 August morning has a little south swell of about 3 feet with an 11-second period, but the wind is cross-off and the energy is weak (276). It’s rideable, but it’s not calling my name. From there, it gets worse. Saturday 29 August and Sunday 30 August are a write-off – the wind is screaming from the SSE at 19 mph, the swell is lumpy, and it’s all blown out. You’ll be fighting a cross-chop, and it’s just not worth it.

The first real standout fires up on Tuesday 1 September. The morning is glassy with a light offshore breeze from the west at 6 mph. The swell is a solid 6 feet from the southwest, running at 14 seconds, and the energy is strong (1184). The water temp is about 59°, a little cooler than usual for this time of year, so you’ll want a good suit. The waves will have shape and power, and with that offshore wind, it’ll be clean as a whistle. That’s your best window in the first week. The afternoon is similar, with a cross-off breeze and a 6-foot swell.

Then we hit a nasty stretch. Wednesday 2 September through Friday 4 September is a hard pass. The wind picks up to near-gale force from the southeast, over 25 mph, and the swell gets huge and messy. On Wednesday morning, the swell is 10 feet from the southwest with a 16-second period, but the wind is a strong cross-onshore, making it a washing machine. The energy is extreme (5017), but it’s unsurfable for a paddle board. This is more of a kite day, honestly. Winds stay brutal at 31-37 mph, blowing everything out. Don’t bother.

After that storm passes, Saturday 5 September is a huge payoff. The morning is clean with a light cross-off breeze from the north-northwest at 6 mph. The swell is 8 feet from the southeast, period of 10 seconds, and the energy is strong (1234). It’s a big, powerful swell – about as big as you’d want for a fun session, but it’s a heavy wave. Beginners should sit this one out. The afternoon holds up with a moderate offshore breeze from the northwest, keeping the 7-foot swell clean. This is a true standout.

By Sunday 6 September, the swell drops to 2 feet, but with a long 16-second period, it’s a clean, gentle wave with offshore wind. Good for a longboard or a quiet session.

The second week is pretty quiet. Monday 7 September to Wednesday 9 September is mostly tiny and weak, with onshore or cross-shore winds. Swell is 1 to 2 feet, and the energy is low. Not worth the drive. Thursday 10 September and Friday 11 September are similar – occasional clean conditions, but the swell is just too small. The best you’ll see is a 3-foot, short-period wave with a cross-off wind, but it’s not enough.

Finally, Saturday 12 September looks like a decent end to the run. The swell picks up to 4-5 feet from the southwest with a 14-second period, and the wind is clean from the north-northwest. The energy is moderate (777). It’s a promising day, but it’s a week and a half away, so keep your expectations in check.

The Gist: Your two best bets are Tuesday 1 September and Saturday 5 September. The 1st is a clean, solid all-rounder, and the 5th is the big, powerful day for the experienced crew. The rest is a mix of small, windy, or just plain ugly. Be patient.

Rusty.

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