La Derecha del Cartel Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, it’s Rusty here. Right now, there’s nothing going on at La Derecha del Cartel. The start of the window is flat, and the first few days are pretty much a write-off. We’re looking at a long gap of small, weak swell with no quality until we get into the first week of September. The water is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, sitting at 77°.

Tuesday morning, 25 August, is glassy but the swell is tiny – 1 ft from the NNW with a short period and combined energy of just 35. It’s poor. Wednesday and Thursday are even smaller. Friday the 28th stays tiny, with a glassy morning but no push. Saturday the 29th sees a slight uptick: 2 ft from the NNW, period jumping to 11 seconds, energy at 64. It’s still very ordinary, but you might catch a knee-high set if you’re patient. Sunday the 30th brings a little more size – 3 ft from the NE, period dropping to 7 seconds, energy 124 – but the conditions are still just surfable, nothing special.

Monday the 31st is a mixed bag: a glassy morning with 1 ft from the NW (period 10 seconds, energy 25) then an afternoon jump to 3 ft NE (period 5 seconds, energy 52). Still ordinary. Tuesday 1 September morning sees 5 ft from the NE, period 6 seconds, energy 163, with glassy conditions – that’s the first day where the swell has some weight, but the period is short and it’s still just surfable. Wednesday 2 September afternoon looks better: 4 ft from the NE, period 7 seconds, energy 151, with glassy clean conditions. Not a standout, but a step up.

Now, the standout: Thursday 3 September. Morning delivers 6 ft from the NE, period 7 seconds, energy 350, with a gentle offshore from the SE. That’s the best push of the whole window – clean, solid overhead waves, but at 6 ft it’s getting into the zone where beginners might feel it. The afternoon holds at 6 ft, energy 250, still offshore from the ESE. This is the day to circle. Friday 4 September morning holds at 5 ft from the NE, period 7 seconds, energy 241, with a slight offshore – still good, but not as strong as Thursday.

Saturday 5 September afternoon sees 5 ft from the NE, period 7 seconds, energy 214, with a clean offshore from the SE – another solid session. After that, the swell fades into the second week. Sunday 6 September drops to 3 ft from the NE, energy 101, and the rest of the window is small, with periods varying from 8 to 14 seconds but heights under 2 ft. The energy is weak, and the conditions are mostly clean but not worth the paddle.

Overall, the best on offer is Thursday 3 September and Friday 4 September morning. That’s your window. The rest is a long wait for something that never really fires.

- Rusty

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