Jongensfontein Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get stuck into the outlook for this stretch of coast. The one spot we’re looking at is Jongensfontein, a reef break that’s consistent and exposed to the south swell. The water temp is sitting around 61°, which is just about normal for this time of year.

The first real nod comes on Monday morning, 31 August. It’s glassy, clean as a whistle, with a westerly breeze barely a whisper. Swell is 5ft from the southwest, period of 11 seconds – that’s a nice, solid groundswell. The combined energy is moderate (524). It’s not the biggest day, but with that glassy surface, it’ll be smooth and fun for intermediate surfers. Crowds are possible, so keep an eye out.

But the standout, the one you really want to circle on the calendar, is Tuesday morning, 1 September. This is where it gets proper. The swell jumps to 8ft from the southwest, period 13 seconds, and the combined energy is strong (1862). That’s a lot of power. The wind is a light westerly, glassy again. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers – it’s over 5ft, so beginners might find it a handful, but for the crew who know what they’re doing, this is the best session in the whole 16-day window. The swell direction is right on the money for this break.

After that, the wind turns against us. Tuesday afternoon gets a moderate cross-shore, and Wednesday is even worse with a cross-onshore breeze. The swell stays solid through Wednesday, peaking at 8ft, but the wind messes it up. By Thursday, the wind is howling, and it’s a write-off.

We then hit a dry spell. From Thursday afternoon, 3 September, right through to Wednesday morning, 10 September, it’s a stretch of poor conditions – strong onshore winds, lumpy chop, and messy surf. A few marginal moments in there, but nothing you’d want to paddle out for.

There’s a flicker of hope on Thursday morning, 10 September. The wind swings to a light westerly cross-off, the swell drops to 3ft from the southwest with a 13-second period, and the combined energy is weak (362). It’s clean, but small. It’s a good surf session for the longboard or a fun fish, but not a standout.

Friday morning, 11 September, is similar – 4ft, clean cross-off wind, but again moderate energy (502). Decent, but not epic.

The end of the period has a big one, but it’s a trap. On Monday afternoon, 14 September, the swell is forecast to hit 10ft from the southwest, period 16 seconds, combined energy a massive 4140. That is a huge, long-period groundswell. The wind is a gentle cross-onshore, so it’s not clean, but the real problem is the size. It’s over 8ft, so it’s only for experts. For a reef break like this, that kind of power and period could make it a heavy, dangerous wave. For the average surfer, it’s a day to watch from the shore or take the kite out if you’re into that – the setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

So, the bottom line: the best surf on offer is Tuesday morning, 1 September. Glassy, solid swell, and the right direction. After that, it’s a mix of wind-affected or too-big conditions until the very end. Hold out for that Tuesday session.

Rusty.

Read more