Mini Capo Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, let’s talk surf.

It’s a rough start at Mini Capo (Mini-Cap). Water temp is 83°F, which is a solid 5°F warmer than usual, so you’ll be sweating in your suit more than surfing. But the real problem is there’s nothing to ride. From Wednesday the 12th to Sunday the 16th of August, it’s completely flat. Zero swell, zero energy, just poor conditions and a few light cross-offshore breezes keeping things clean but dead. Don’t bother.

Monday the 17th and Tuesday morning the 18th finally show a pulse. Tuesday morning the 18th brings a tiny 4ft northwest swell with a 7-second period, but the combined energy is only 105 (weak), and it’s described as “surfable but very ordinary.” It’s glassy, though, with a slight air from the northwest, so you might get a few knee-high bumps if you’re really keen. Not worth the drive.

From Wednesday the 19th through to Sunday the 23rd of August, the swell tries to build but the wind gets wild. Wednesday morning the 19th has 5ft from the northwest at 8 seconds, with 313 energy (moderate), but the wind is a fresh 30 km/h cross-offshore – clean but messy. Still poor surf. Thursday the 20th goes glassy again with a tiny 3ft northwest swell, but energy drops to 59 (weak). Friday the 21st and Saturday the 22nd are even smaller. Sunday the 23rd morning has 3ft from the northwest with 91 energy, but it’s rain showers and clean cross-offshore – still just “surfable but very ordinary.” No standout here.

Now, the real fire is way out at the end of the forecast. Circle Wednesday the 26th and Thursday the 27th of August. On Wednesday the 26th afternoon, we get a solid 12ft swell from the northwest with a 10-second period, and the combined energy is 2482 (strong). That’s serious power. The wind is a moderate 20 km/h cross-offshore from the west-northwest, keeping it clean. At 12ft, this is for experts only – way too big for beginners. The swell direction is northwest, which is spot-on for this exposed reef, so it’ll handle the size well. Remember, this is a long way out, so it’s promising but not guaranteed.

Thursday the 27th of August is the real highlight. Morning session brings 13ft from the northwest at 10 seconds, and the combined energy is a massive 6307 (very strong). That’s a proper groundswell. The wind is moderate cross-offshore from the northwest, so it’s clean. At 13ft, this is strictly for experts. The period is 10 seconds, which is decent, so it should hold shape on this reef. The afternoon drops to 10ft from the west-northwest with 2126 energy, still strong, but the wind picks up to 25 km/h. Thursday morning is the best window in the whole 16 days, but it’s a long-range call, so keep your fingers crossed.

Bottom line: a huge flat spell from the 12th to the 17th, then a few weak, ordinary days, and then a big spike late in the second week. The only one worth chasing is Thursday the 27th of August morning – 13ft, northwest, clean, for the experienced crew only. Mini Capo (Mini-Cap) is an inconsistent reef, but when it lights up, it’s a proper slab.

Rusty.

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