Las Monjas Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, and I’ve got the rundown on the surf outlook for Las Monjas. This reef break is a beginner-friendly spot that’s usually very consistent, but the next two weeks are looking like a proper write-off for any decent waves. The water temp is sitting at 76°F and a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least it’ll be a comfortable wait.

We’re starting right now, and from Friday 4th September right through to almost the end of the 16-day window, it’s grim. The winds are mostly cross-onshore from the north, chopping everything up, and the swell is small and weak. The energy is low, barely cracking 93 feet-squared on Friday morning, and the periods are short – around 5 to 7 seconds – so there’s no push or shape. The waves are tiny, around 3 ft to 4 ft, and with poor surf conditions flagged on every single session, there’s nothing to get excited about.

The swell does start to push a little more muscle from the 6th onwards, with heights hitting 5 ft and the combined energy climbing into the 200s and 300s (227-383), but the wind stays stubbornly cross-onshore, and the quality is still rated as poor. The period only gets as high as 8 seconds, so it’s still just messy windswell. Even the clearer days around the 8th and 9th don’t help – the wind is still onshore, and the waves are unrideable.

There’s a slight tease on the 16th of September, Wednesday morning, where the swell picks up to 4 ft with a light cross-shore breeze and some marginal surf forecast, but it’s a one-off blip in a sea of poor conditions. The 17th and 18th show more size – 5 ft to 6 ft – and the energy climbs into the 500s (528), which is moderate to strong, but again, the wind is cross or cross-onshore and the period is still short (7-9 seconds). The forecast is just marginal at best, not a standout.

The best on offer in this whole outlook is really weak. The morning of the 18th (Friday) has the most energy (528) and a 6 ft swell from the NNE, with a light cross-shore breeze, but it’s only a 2 out of 10 call. It’s not clean, the period is short, and the swell direction (NNE) is not the optimum NW that this reef likes. For a beginner spot, anything over 5 ft is already pushing it, and with the wind and chop, this is not a session anyone should paddle out for.

Honestly, if you’re a surfer, you’re looking at a solid 16-day gap with no real surf. The setup is more interesting for kiteboarding than paddle surfing, given the persistent cross-onshore winds and building chop. Don’t hold your breath – the forecasts might change, but for now, it’s a long blank run.

Rusty.

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