Pelican Watch Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s chop the numbers. We’re looking at Pelican Watch, and honestly, it’s a tough few weeks ahead. For the next two weeks, there’s barely a session worth paddling out for, so don’t get your hopes up.

The water is sitting at 81°, which is pretty standard for this time of year, so that’s one thing you won’t have to complain about.

For the first few days, from Saturday the 12th through to Monday the 14th, the swell is tiny, barely 1 ft to 2 ft from the SE with periods around 9 seconds. The combined energy is weak, sitting between 29 and 70, and the wind is either cross-off or cross, but a bit gusty. It’s clean enough to look at, but there’s nothing to ride. The wave comment says it all – poor surf conditions.

Tuesday the 15th to Thursday the 17th sees a jump in size, up to 4 ft from the ENE, but the period drops to 6-7 seconds and the wind swings onshore and cross-onshore. The combined energy jumps up to 162, showing there’s some push, but it’s choppy and messy. That’s not a surf wind, it’s a kite wind setup, honestly, so if you’re into that, go for it, but for a paddle surfer, it’s a washout.

We get a tiny glimmer on Saturday the 19th morning. The swell stays small at 1 ft from the SE, combined energy only 18, but the wind goes glassy. It’s tiny, but if you’re desperate, that glassy window is the closest to clean the whole forecast gets. It’s a beginner wave at best, with period at 5 seconds, so no power.

Then from Sunday the 20th onward, through to Saturday the 26th, it’s a mix of tiny swell, onshore winds, and thunderstorms. The period stays short, wind is mostly cross-on or on, and the energy barely tickles 100. It’s a long gap of nothing.

Now, the one standout if you can stomach the wait and the risk: the last two days, Sunday the 27th. The swell picks up to 6 ft from the ENE, period still short at 6 seconds, but combined energy hits 222, which is moderate and the best in the whole window. The wind goes cross with a light breeze, so the ocean will have some lumps but it’s rideable. It’s still a beach setup, and with that short period, it’ll be a peaky, bumpy affair, but for experts only – 6 ft is too much for beginners, and the period won’t groom it. Crowds are likely at Pelican Watch, so expect company if you go.

Bottom line: this is a bleak outlook. There’s no true quality on offer. If you’re a patient beginner, the glassy Saturday morning the 19th might give you a wobbly ride. For anyone else, Sunday the 27th is the only day you’d even consider, but keep expectations low. The whole stretch is full of poor conditions, so it’s a good time to fix a ding or two.

Rusty.

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