Pelican Watch Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get real about the surf. First things first, I’m not going to sugarcoat it: the next couple of weeks are looking pretty bleak for waves. There’s a whole lot of small, weak swell on the menu, and it’s going to take a while before anything with real push shows up.

We’re looking at Pelican Watch, and the water’s sitting at 82°, which is pretty much spot on for this time of year. Nothing weird going on there, just your typical tropical warmth.

The first few days, from Tuesday the 18th through to the 27th, are dominated by tiny, weak surf. We're talking chest-to-waist high at the very best, but really, it's mostly knee-slappers. The energy is really low, with values often in the 20s and 30s. The swell direction is mostly SE, but it doesn't matter when it's this small. There is a period around the 22nd and 23rd where the swell bumps up slightly with a south swell, but it's short-period, rough, and stormy-looking. Not worth your time.

The one morning that looks a little interesting in this stretch is Saturday the 22nd. It's still small at 2ft, but the wind is offshore and the conditions are clean. It’s surfable, but you won't be getting any glory. It's more of a "get wet and enjoy the peace" kind of session than a "charge" session. The long gap of poor surf is really the story here.

Now, let's talk about Friday morning, the 28th of August. This is the standout, and it's a full eight days out. There's a pulse of SSW swell pushing the wave height up to 4ft. The energy jumps way up to 238, which is a significant jump from the weak stuff we've been seeing. The period is a short 6 seconds, which will make it a bit lumpy, but the wind is light and offshore from the SSW. That's a recipe for clean, if a bit junky, waves. This is your best bet.

It’s not huge, but it’s a solid, clean, rideable size for the average surfer, and it’s the only real punch of energy in the whole window. This is the one to keep an eye on, but remember, it's a week out, so don't book the day off work just yet. The rest of that weekend and into September reverts back to the small, weak junk.

Honestly, if you're desperate for a paddle, the morning of the 22nd or the morning of the 30th with the glassy conditions might be your only other options, but the waves will be scarce. For the most part, you're better off waiting for that Friday the 28th.

This is Rusty, signing off. It's gonna be a waiting game.

Read more