Manglecito Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a honest look at what’s coming down the line for us.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you: the next 16 days are looking like a bit of a write-off at Manglecito. There’s a big ol’ gap right from the start, with nothing worth paddling out for. We’ve got a run from Thursday the 13th all the way through to the morning of Saturday the 23rd of August with just tiny, weak scraps. We’re talking swell heights of 1.0ft at best, and down to 0.3ft or flat. The combined wave energy is barely a whisper, sitting at just 22 on the opening afternoon and then dropping to single digits or zero. That’s not surf, that’s a lake.

The wind is a constant cross-off from the SSE, so the surface will be clean, but there’s no power behind the waves to make it worth your while. Periods are a short 8 seconds, so no grunt. What makes it even more frustrating is the water temp is sitting at 78°F, which is a massive 8°F warmer than usual for this time of year. It’s a tropical bath out there, but with nothing to ride.

Now, if you're holding out hope, the only real flicker of possibility shows up on Monday the 24th of August. In the afternoon, we finally see a pulse of swell with a 15-second period from the NW. It’s tiny, just 0.3ft, and the energy is still very weak at 8, so it's hardly a standout. It’s also a very long period for such a small wave, which can make it fat and straight at a reef-and-point set-up like Manglecito. But hey, it’s the only groundswell in the whole window, so if you’re desperate, that’s your best bet. Keep your expectations on the floor though.

The following morning on Tuesday the 25th of August has another tiny 0.7ft pulse, but it’s back to short period. After that, we slide back into flatness through to the end of the period on Friday the 28th of August.

Honestly, for a spot that’s fairly consistent, this is a rough run. The swell direction never matches the optimum N direction for the break either. For most of this, it's more a spot for a swim than a surf. The set-up is such that with this kind of weak, blown-out crap, you’d probably be better off pulling out a kite if you’ve got one. There’s nothing for the paddler here. The forecasts can always change, but right now, it’s a hard pass.

Rusty.

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