Pelican Watch Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. I’m Rusty, and I’ve been watching this stretch of coast for a long time.

Honestly, looking at the next 16 days, there’s not a lot to get stoked on. The swell is small and inconsistent, and the wind is often a problem. We’ve got a long stretch of poor conditions before anything even looks like a proper surf session.

The first real chance to get wet is Tuesday morning, July 7th, at Pelican Watch. You’re looking at a tiny 3 ft swell from the south, with a short period of 6 seconds. The combined energy is weak at 64, so it’s not going to have any punch. The wind is a cross-off from the SW, which will keep the surface clean, but the waves are just ordinary. It’s a beginner-friendly spot, so if you’re learning, you might get a few soft ones, but don’t expect anything special.

The pattern repeats for the next few days. Wednesday morning, July 8th, is similar: 3 ft south swell, 6-second period, 62 energy, but at least the wind turns offshore from the WSW. That’s a clean look, but the waves are still very ordinary. Thursday morning, July 9th, is the same story with a cross-off wind and poor conditions. Friday morning, July 10th, brings a slightly bigger 3 ft south swell, still short period, and an offshore wind that cleans things up nicely. The energy is 85, still weak. It’s surfable, but it’s not going to get your heart racing.

Saturday morning, July 11th, sees a 2 ft south swell with light offshore wind, making for clean conditions. Again, it’s ordinary. The rest of the first week is a write-off with small, weak swell and poor wind, mostly cross-off or cross-shore. The combined energy values are very low, often in the teens or twenties.

Now, we hit a gap of a few days where the surf is just not worth paddling out for. The wind is fresh and the swell is tiny.

Moving into the second week, things start to look a little more promising. On Sunday morning, July 19th, we get a 3 ft swell from the SSE with a 7-second period, energy just under 87. The wind is a gentle cross-off from the WNW. It’s still ordinary, but it’s the best we’ve seen in a while.

Then, on Monday morning, July 20th, the combined energy jumps to 117, which is moderate wave energy. The swell is 3 ft from the south, with an 8-second period. The wind is light and cross-shore from the south, so there will be some small ripples on the face. It’s still not great, but it’s the most energy we’ve seen in the whole outlook.

The standout for the whole period, though, is Tuesday morning, July 21st. The wind goes glassy from the WNW at only 3 mph. That’s a rare treat. The swell is 2 ft from the SE with a 7-second period, energy 56. It’s small, but that glassy surface will make it look and feel better than any other day. If you’ve got a longboard, that’s your window. The crowds at Pelican Watch can be a thing, so be ready for company.

The water temperature is about average for the time of year. Nothing unusual there.

To be honest, if you’re looking for proper waves, this forecast is a tough one. The wind is mostly messy, and the swell is tiny. For a kiter, the setup might be more interesting than for a paddle surfer on most of these days. The best bet is that glassy Tuesday morning—it’s the only time the conditions really come together.

Keep your eyes on the charts, though. It tends not to stay this poor for long.

Rusty.

Read more