Moss Landing Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you. Looking at the charts for Moss Landing, the next couple of weeks are a bit of a mixed bag. There's a whole lot of nothing on the immediate horizon, and it's going to take a while before things get interesting. The low-angled windswell and cross-onshore breezes are going to make things messy for the most part, but there is a glimmer of hope if you're willing to wait it out.

We're looking at a long, flat spell to kick things off. From Monday the 7th through until about Friday the 12th, it’s going to be pretty grim. The swell is tiny, mostly under 3ft, and that onshore wind is just going to chop it up. There's some energy in the water by Thursday the 10th, but it's not going to translate into anything rideable. It's going to be a lake out there. Keep the board in the car or go for a paddle, because that’s about all you’ll be doing.

The weekend of the 12th and 13th sees a little more push, with the swell building to 4ft to 5.5ft on Saturday, but the period drops off and the wind is all over it. That’s a full on cross-onshore mess, choppy and lumpy, only worth a look if you're desperate and don't mind getting worked. Sunday morning is slightly better with the wind easing off, but the tide and swell combo looks marginal at best.

The start of the following week, the 14th and 15th, remains in the same vein. A few waves but period is short and the winds are just enough to keep the surface bumpy. Not worth getting excited about. Then we see a real drop-off again mid-week, with the energy level falling off a cliff. By Thursday the 17th, it's flat and pretty hopeless.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. The forecast models are hinting at a cleaner pattern from the 20th of September onwards. The energy starts to build steadily. By Monday morning the 21st, we finally have some decent looking surf. The swell is 3ft from the SW with a period of 18 seconds. That's proper groundswell energy. But the big news is the wind. Monday morning is showing glass conditions. That is the standout window. If you can get out there early on the 21st, you might just score the best waves of the entire period. It’s still not huge, but with that long period and completely clean surface, Moss Landing (Monterey Bay) will be worth every second.

After that, Tuesday the 22nd has some potential too, with the swell filling in a little more and the wind staying light for the morning, but the period is a touch shorter. There’s some strong energy there by the afternoon, but the winds will likely turn it to slop by then. Keep your eyes on that Monday morning, it’s the one to circle on the calendar.

Overall, it’s going to be a waiting game. Don't waste your energy on the first ten days. Save it for Monday the 21st when that glassy, long-period southwest groundswell rolls in.

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