La Derecha del Cartel Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s on offer for La Derecha del Cartel.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you: the next week and a bit is gonna be a struggle. The first real surf doesn’t show up until Monday, August 24th, and even then, it’s only a 2ft swell from the NNW with an 11-second period, but the energy is weak at 109. The water’s sitting at 77°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. The wind’s light offshore from the SE, so the surface will be clean for the afternoon, but the waves are just ordinary. After that, we’ve got a real dry spell. From Tuesday the 25th right through until Friday the 28th, it’s all tiny junk – heights barely hitting 1ft, periods dropping into the 4 to 7-second range, and wave energy levels so low they’re practically not worth paddling for. You’d be fighting for a dribble.

We finally see a pulse of life on Saturday, August 29th. The morning offers a 4ft swell from the NE with a short, 7-second period, giving us a moderate energy reading of 168. But the standout? You’ve got to look at Wednesday, September 2nd. That afternoon, the swell jumps to 6ft from the NE at an 8-second period, with a combined energy of 459 – that’s moderate, solid energy for this reef. Winds will be light and cross-off from the east, keeping conditions clean. This is the pick of the whole run for a surfer who’s comfortable. It’s not huge, but with that energy it’ll be punchy.

Then the real gold appears on Monday, September 7th and into Tuesday the 8th. Monday morning glassy conditions with a 3ft swell from the WNW and a very long 15-second period. That groundswell carries a powerful energy reading of 537. That kind of period means the waves will have real shape and push, but on a reef like this, it’ll be lining up nicely. The wind is glassy from the SSW to start, and then a light offshore from the SE keeps it clean through the afternoon. Tuesday follows with a 3ft WNW swell at a 12-second period and energy at 292, with a light offshore from the ESE again. These two days are your true standouts – clean, long-period, proper waves. Don’t sleep on them; just know that a 15-second swell can make for longer lulls between sets, so be patient between waves.

Crowds are a consideration here though. It says it’s “often” crowded, so expect company, especially on the best days. For the beginner, the 6ft on September 2nd might be a bit much, but the later 3ft days are manageable.

Rusty out.

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