Fistral-South Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ve had a good look at the next couple of weeks for Fistral-South, and to be honest, it’s a pretty grim stretch for paddle surfing. The whole 16-day window is basically one long run of poor surf conditions. There are no standout days, no real gems, just flat, weak, and messy conditions from start to finish. You’re looking at a solid two-week gap with nothing worth getting wet for. The water temperature is sitting at 65°F at the start, which is 5°F warmer than normal for this time of year—very unusual, feels like a warm bath, but that’s about the only upside.

Tuesday 14th July: Starts off with tiny 0.7ft swell from the WSW, period of 18 seconds—long period groundswell, but it’s so small it’s basically flat. Combined energy is a weak 52. Winds are cross-off, so it’s clean, but there’s nothing to ride.

Wednesday 15th July: Still tiny, 0.9ft from the W, period dropping to 9 seconds, energy at 19. Cross-off wind keeps it clean, but the swell is gutless.

Thursday 16th July: A little 2ft from the N in the morning, period a short 5 seconds, energy 35. Afternoon goes glassy with a 0.9ft W swell and 40 energy—glassy and pretty, but flat as a pancake.

Friday 17th July to Monday 20th July: The swell never gets above 3ft, all short-period junk from the N or NNW. Winds are mostly cross-on or cross, so it’s bumpy and weak. Energy stays under 64. Nothing doing.

Tuesday 21st July to Thursday 23rd July: Still poor, with the biggest being 3ft on Thursday morning from the N, period 5 seconds, energy 64. Cross-on wind makes it choppy. Not worth a paddle.

Friday 24th July: A bit more wind, fresh breeze from the N at 19 mph, swell up to 3ft but short period and messy. Energy hits 69 in the afternoon, but it’s cross-onshore and lumpy.

Saturday 25th July: The swell finally climbs to 4ft from the W in the morning, period 6 seconds, energy 120—moderate. But the wind is cross-on at 16 mph, so it’s choppy and poor. Afternoon drops to 3ft. Still not surfable.

Sunday 26th July: The best we get. Swell hits 4ft from the W, period 11 seconds (longer period, better shape potential), and the energy is strong at 350. But—and it’s a big but—the wind is onshore from the NNW at 16 mph. That onshore wind will ruin it. Afternoon is the same, 4ft, 296 energy, but still onshore. This is the closest to something half-decent, but the wind kills it. The long period is nice, but at a beach break like Fistral-South, it can make waves break too straight.

Monday 27th July: 5ft from the W in the morning, period 7 seconds, energy 338. But onshore wind again from the WNW at 19 mph, plus rain showers. Afternoon drops to 3ft but with fresh cross-onshore winds. Messy.

Tuesday 28th July: Afternoon picks up 4ft from the WSW, period 8 seconds, energy 251—moderate. Wind is cross-off from the S at 12 mph, so it’s clean. That’s a rare clean window, but the swell is still small and the quality is rated poor.

Wednesday 29th July: Swell jumps to 7ft from the W in the morning, period 7 seconds, energy 420—strong wave energy. But winds are 19 mph from the WSW, creating fresh cross-shore chop. This size is too big for beginners and only for experts, but the wind makes it messy. Afternoon has 5ft and 501 energy, but a strong breeze at 25 mph from the WSW makes it strong cross-onshore and messy. Not a safe or fun paddle at a beach break—more of a kite-surfing day if anything.

Bottom line: Honestly, there’s no real surf on offer. The entire 16-day window is poor. The only day that even hints at something is Sunday 26th July with waist-high swell and decent energy, but the onshore wind kills it. If you’re desperate, that’s your only glimpse, but it’s not worth the drive. The area is having a flat spell—these blank runs happen. Forecasts can change, but right now, keep the board in the van.

Rusty.

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