Moss Landing Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for the Moss Landing stretch. Gotta be straight with you – this one’s a tough read. The whole 16-day window is a real grind, with barely a sniff of clean, rideable surf. The pattern is pretty locked in: a persistent cross-onshore wind from the W and WSW, which is just chopping everything up. There’s a long stretch of poor conditions from Friday the 24th of July all the way through to the morning of Monday the 4th of August. That’s a solid ten-plus days of junk. The only real glimmer I can see is a single, fleeting window.

Let’s talk about that one standout. The morning of Tuesday, the 4th of August, at Moss Landing. For a brief moment, the wind drops to nothing – glassy conditions. The swell is coming from the WNW at 5ft, with a period of 9 seconds. That’s a decent enough groundswell, enough to push some lines through. The combined swell energy is a solid moderate 348, so there’s some push behind it. The water temp is sitting at 61°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so you might not need the thickest rubber. The break is very consistent and fairly exposed to that NW swell direction, which lines up nicely with what it needs. It’s an advanced spot, so you’ll want to have your wits about you, and the crowds are *sometimes* an issue, so expect some company if you’re after the peak. This is the only real chance for a clean paddle, but it’s a short-lived opportunity.

Outside of that Tuesday morning, it’s a no-go. Most afternoons, especially as the swell pushes up to 5ft and even 6ft with a combined energy climbing into the strong range (362 to 443), the wind is just too strong and onshore. The waves will be a mess. Given the persistent side-off nature of the wind and the beach setup, this whole stretch actually looks a lot more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. The swell is there, but the quality is just not for us.

So, for the next two weeks, you’ve got one morning – Tuesday the 4th of August. That’s your shot. Otherwise, it’s a long, frustrating wait. But hang in there – forecasts can change, and it doesn’t usually stay this poor for this long.

Rusty.

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