Gilligans Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming our way for the next couple of weeks.

We’ve got a classic, extended run of solid SSW groundswell at Gilligans, a reef break that stays pretty consistent. The water’s sitting at a warm 85°F, which is about average for this time of year, nothing weird going on there. The whole period is dominated by a long-period swell from the SSW, with periods mostly between 14 and 19 seconds – that’s proper groundswell, and at a reef break like this, that long period will really wrap in and give you some nice, powerful lines. The combined swell energy is strong to very strong, often in the 2000s and even hitting over 3800 (3817), so there’s plenty of juice in the water.

Now, the first few days starting Thursday the 20th through the weekend are a bit of a mixed bag. The swell is there, sizeable at 7 ft to 8 ft, but the wind is cross-shore to cross-onshore, and the forecasters are calling it marginal. The surface will be a little bumpy, not really the clean, glassy stuff we dream about. For the intermediate surfer, those 8 ft sets with a stiff 12 mph cross breeze are going to be a wrestle, not a glide.

We see a small drop in swell early next week, but the real standout doesn’t arrive until Monday, August 31st. The swell bumps back up to 7 ft to 8 ft from the SW, with a very long 19-second period, and the wind swings light and variable. Tuesday, September 1st, is the absolute gem of this forecast. The morning is pure glass – zero wind, flat calm. You’ve got a 7 ft SW groundswell with a 17-second period. That’s the kind of day where Gilligans will be a long, clean wall. The combined energy is pumping at 3112, but it’s glassy. It’s a “for experienced surfers” kind of call, because anything over 8 ft starts to get gnarly, but at 7 ft with that period and those conditions, it’s an absolute dream for anyone who can handle a proper reef. The crowd situation is “sometimes”, so on a magic day like that, expect a few others with the same idea.

The quality tapers off after the 1st, with the swell slowly fading and the wind turning a bit more cross-onshore again through the first week of September. The early sessions on the 3rd and 4th are still worth a look if you’re desperate, with 5 ft to 5 ft swell and lighter winds, but it won’t hold a candle to that glassy Tuesday.

So, to sum it up: the whole run is a long-period SSW groundswell feast, but the wind is the main character. The absolute best bet is Tuesday morning, September 1st. Get on it if you can.

Rusty.

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