Fish Hoek Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, let’s take a look at what’s coming down the pipe for Fish Hoek.

To be straight with you, the next few days are pretty ordinary. We’ve got some onshore junk and wonky conditions to sit through first, but there’s light at the end of the tunnel. The standout period looks like Monday the 17th, with a nice clean window opening up. Later on, the very end of the run into the 24th and 25th of August also offers some clean, small waves for a quiet session.

We kick off on Tuesday the 11th and it’s a write-off. Strong onshore winds from the ESE at 15 to 22 mph are tearing up a 4 ft to 5 ft swell from the SSW and SE. Wave energy is moderate (752 to 728) but the quality is just poor. Don’t bother paddling out.

Wednesday the 12th and Thursday the 13th stay marginal. The swell bumps up a touch, reaching 4 ft to 5 ft from the SW with a solid long period around 17 to 18 seconds. That long period groundswell has some grunt, with moderate to strong combined energy (1293 to 1703), but cross-shore winds keep things rippled and average.

Friday the 14th is where we start to see some hope. Morning brings a clean 4 ft SW groundswell (676 energy) with light cross-offshore N wind. Then Friday afternoon turns glassy – absolute zero wind from the WNW, with a clean 4 ft WSW swell. This is the first real session of the week. Clean lines, not big, but a nice window to get wet.

Saturday the 15th is mixed. Morning stays marginal with light cross-shore wind on a 4 ft WSW swell, but the afternoon cleans up with a light cross-offshore SW breeze and 4 ft waves. Sunday the 16th morning is glassy again with 4 ft WSW swell – another clean, small option.

Now for the best of the bunch – Monday the 17th of August. This is the pick. Morning brings a 6 ft SW groundswell (1262 energy, moderate-strong) with a light cross-offshore NNW breeze. Clean. The afternoon gets even better: offshore NW wind at 12 mph, same 6 ft SW swell. That’s offshore and clean, proper shape for Fish Hoek’s fairly exposed SE-facing beach. Crowds can be an issue here, but with these conditions it’ll be worth competing for a few. This is a beginner-friendly size too, just over 5 ft, so not too intimidating.

Tuesday the 18th turns nasty again. Onshore SSE winds at 12 to 22 mph ruin a 7 ft to 8 ft SW swell. That’s getting too big for beginners and the chop will be messy. Wednesday the 19th is also poor with onshore ESE and SE winds. Not worth it.

Thursday the 20th sees a slight improvement. A 5 ft to 6 ft swell from the SE and ESE, period short at 8-9 seconds, but the afternoon gets a cross-offshore NW breeze and clean conditions. Still only marginal, but a possibility.

Friday the 21st is small and weak – 3 ft to 3 ft SW swell, energy under 300. Saturday the 22nd brings a 4 ft SW groundswell with a long 15-second period in the morning, but onshore E wind ruins it. The afternoon jumps to 6 ft WSW with strong energy (1953) but cross-onshore SSE winds make it choppy.

Sunday the 23rd is similar: 5 ft to 6 ft SW groundswell, strong energy, but cross-onshore winds keep it messy.

Then we get another clean run to close out. Monday the 24th of August is a beauty. Morning and afternoon both have 4 ft SW swell with light cross-offshore winds from the NW and SW. Clean, small, glassy in the morning. Perfect for a longboard or a funboard.

Tuesday the 25th of August offers more of the same but smaller. Morning has 2 ft SW swell with clean cross-offshore NW breeze. Afternoon brings offshore WNW wind at 6 mph and a 2 ft SW groundswell with a 13-second period – that’s clean and lined up, despite the size.

Wednesday the 26th ends the run with onshore SE wind at 15 mph and 4 ft SW swell. Poor.

Water temperature is around average for this time of year, nothing unusual to report.

Rusty.

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