La Saladita Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here. We’ve got a solid run of surf lining up at La Saladita. This place is a consistent reef-and-point set-up that loves a good south-west swell, and we’ve got plenty of that on the way.

The water’s sitting at a warm 88°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so you can leave the full suit at home.

We kick things off on Friday morning, the 28th of August. It’s glassy early with a light 3 mph northerly breeze. The swell is a clean 4ft from the SSW with a super long 17-second period. That’s groundswell with real energy behind it (961 combined energy). For a point and reef like this, that long period is a dream – good shape, long waits between sets, easy paddle. This is a beauty of a morning.

Friday afternoon, the wind swings westerly at 9 mph and gets cross-onshore, chopping things up a bit. The swell bumps to 5ft, but it’s not as clean. Skip the arvo.

Saturday the 29th is the standout of this first week. Both morning and afternoon deliver clean, excellent conditions for experienced surfers. Morning has a 6ft SSW swell with 16-second period and a light cross-off wind from the NNE (1664 combined energy). The afternoon holds 5ft from the SW at 15 seconds. This is proper, lined-up point surf. Because the swell is over 5ft, beginners might find it a bit much, but for the rest of you, it’s on.

Sunday the 30th is still very good in the morning – 5ft SW swell, 14-second period, light cross-off wind. The afternoon gets a cross-shore wind that makes it a bit bumpy.

Monday morning the 31st, we get a drop in size to 4ft, but with a 3 mph cross-off wind, it stays clean and fun. The afternoon turns onshore and poor.

Tuesday the 1st of September is glassy again in the morning with a knee-high 3ft from the SSW. A good window for a longboard cruise. The afternoon goes onshore again.

Wednesday the 2nd has a clean 3ft SW swell (16-second period) in the morning. Small, but clean with a light cross-off breeze.

Now, looking into the first week of September, we’ve got another proper pulse. Thursday the 3rd is excellent in the morning – a 5ft SSW swell with an 18-second period (1474 combined energy) and a light cross-off wind. That is a very long-period groundswell. It’ll be powerful.

Friday the 4th is another top contender. Morning delivers a 6ft SSW swell with 17-second period (1757 combined energy) and barely any wind – just a 3 mph ESE breeze keeping it clean. This is possibly the best of the whole run. The swell is at the top end of the intermediate range, so it’s still fun for a decent crew.

Saturday the 5th remains excellent in the morning with 5ft SSW swell and clean conditions. The quality stays high.

The second week slowly drops off. Sunday the 6th through to Saturday the 12th of September sees the swell shrink from 5ft down to 4ft. The mornings consistently offer clean, cross-off winds and manageable waves. There are no more standouts in the second week, just consistent, fun, smaller surf for your daily fix. The energy drops from around 971 down to 505, so it’s mellow.

Overall, the best windows are the mornings of Friday the 28th, the entire day of Saturday the 29th, and the mornings of Thursday the 3rd and Friday the 4th of September. The Friday the 4th morning, with that 6ft SSW groundswell and glassy conditions, is the pick of the bunch. Crowds are listed as "often" at La Saladita, so get out early for the cleanest waves.

Rusty.

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