Otter Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the cards for the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – this is a tough stretch. We’ve got a long, quiet spell to start, and honestly, the whole outlook is pretty bleak. The first real chance of anything rideable doesn't roll in until Tuesday the 21st, and even then, it’s marginal. The water’s sitting at a cold 54°F, which is 4°F colder than it should be for this time of year, so you'll be needing the thickest wetsuit you’ve got.

The main spot on offer is Otter Rock. It’s a point break, exposed to the west, which is the direction we want to see. It’s fairly consistent, but for a beginner-friendly spot, the conditions are just not playing ball.

We’ve got a quiet period from now until Monday the 20th with no solid recommendations. Things might just be flat.

Tuesday the 21st kicks off with a tiny 2ft swell from the southwest. The period is a very long 16 seconds, so there’s some real groundswell energy there, but it’s so small it’s barely going to break. The combined energy is moderate at 433. Morning winds are a light cross-onshore, but the call is "marginal." Later that afternoon, the same size swell but with a cross-onshore breeze makes it a no-go. Wednesday the 22nd and Thursday the 23rd are much the same story – small, messy, and poor. The swell tries to pick up a bit on Thursday with 4ft from the NW and a short period of 9 seconds, but the wind is cross-onshore and the combined energy is only moderate (388 to 407). It’s just not worth paddling out for.

Now, the weekend of the 25th and 26th has a bit more interest. On Saturday the 25th, we see a 3ft swell from the southwest with a very long period of 21 seconds. The combined energy hits 897, which is solidly moderate and nearly strong. Sunday the 26th has similar 3ft swell from the southwest with 20-second periods and strong energy in the 680s. But here’s the kicker – the wind is cross-onshore, and even though the longer-period swell suggests nice, clean lines, this spot is a point break, which isn't the best fit for a long-period SW swell. It’ll be a bit tricky, and the call is “marginal” at best. For a beginner spot, this is not the one.

After that, the outlook really goes downhill. From the 27th of July all the way to the 4th of August, we’ve got a solid stretch of cross-shore and onshore winds, with swell sizes bouncing between 2ft and 7ft. The biggest days are around the 3rd and 4th of August, with 5ft to 7ft from the NNW, but the period is a short, choppy 6-7 seconds and the wind is just hammering it. The energy is moderate (339 to 485), but the surf quality is repeatedly called "poor." This is more setup for kite surfing than a clean paddle session.

Honestly, there’s no standout here. This is a classic example of a blank run that's normal for the area when the winds and swell don't align. The forecasts can always change, but right now, give the board a rest and wait for a better window.

Rusty.

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