Gilligans Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it. We’ve got a stacked 16-day window at Gilligans, a reef break that’s very consistent and exposed to the SW swell. The water is sitting at 86°, which is about 1° warmer than average for this time of year – nothing wild, just a touch of extra warmth.

Right now, as we look at Sunday the 12th, it’s a bit of a slow start. We’ve got a 4ft SSW swell with a 12-second period, but the cross-shore wind is putting a bit of chop on it. The combined energy reads 493 – that’s weak, not much push. Honestly, it’s marginal. You’d be better off waiting.

Monday the 13th sees a bump. The swell picks up to 5ft from the SSW, still 12 seconds, but the energy jumps to 1005 (moderate). The wind stays cross, so it’s not clean, but it’s getting there. By Tuesday the 14th, the swell drops slightly to 4-5ft, but the period stretches to 17-18 seconds – that’s long-period groundswell. The energy is strong, hitting 1782, but the cross-shore wind keeps it from being glassy. This swell is better suited to a point or reef, which Gilligans is, so it’ll shape up nicely, but the wind is the caveat.

Wednesday the 15th brings a risk of thunderstorms and a 6ft SW swell with 15 seconds and 1450 energy. Still cross-shore. Not a standout.

Then, Thursday the 16th morning is your first real bright spot. The swell is 4ft from the SW, 15 seconds, and we get a clean, cross-offshore breeze. The energy hits 748, and the wave comment says “expect very good surf conditions.” This is the pick of the first week – small but clean, and the wind is your friend.

The pattern continues through the week with steady 4-6ft SSW/SW swells and mostly cross or cross-on winds. The energy fluctuates between 745 and 2171, but the wind never fully cooperates. Crowds are possible here, so keep that in mind.

Now, look ahead to Sunday the 26th. This is the real standout. The morning shows a 5ft SSW swell, 15 seconds, with glassy conditions – wind is virtually nothing. The energy is 1348, and the surf is described as “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” The swell is over 5ft, so it’s a bit much for beginners, but for the rest of us, this is the session to circle. Monday the 27th keeps the magic going: 5ft SSW, 14 seconds, glassy again, with 1071 energy. The wind goes calm on Monday afternoon, too. Two days of clean, glassy reef surfing. That’s as good as it gets.

So, overall: the first week is a slow burn with a clean window on Thursday the 16th, but the real gold is on the 26th and 27th. Get those dates in your calendar.

Rusty.

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