Pelican Watch Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll level with you: the next couple of weeks are a flat, frustrating stretch for surf around here. We’ve got a long dry spell ahead, with barely a wave worth paddling out for. The first real chance of anything rideable doesn’t show up until Wednesday morning, 2nd September, so you’re looking at a few days of nothing before that.

Pelican Watch is the only spot in the mix, and it’s a beginner-friendly break, exposed to the south-east. For this time of year, the water temp is about average, nothing unusual.

Let’s walk through it. Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th of August are a write-off – tiny 1ft swell from the ESE, weak energy, and onshore or cross-onshore breezes. Poor surf, no two ways about it.

Monday the 31st is a tease. The swell stays small at 2ft from the ESE with a short period of 8 seconds, and the morning goes glassy – dead calm, perfect conditions for a clean face. But the combined energy is still weak, and the wave comment says “poor surf conditions.” It’s flat, mate. You could probably get a knee-high ripple if you’re desperate.

Tuesday the 1st of September stays small and clean in the mornings with light offshore winds, but still 2ft and short period (7 seconds). Not enough juice.

Now here’s the one glimmer – Wednesday morning, the 2nd of September. Swell picks up to 2ft from the SE with a period of 10 seconds, and the combined energy hits 110 – moderate wave energy, finally some push. The wind is light and cross-offshore, so it’ll be clean. The wave comment says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions,” and it scores a 1 out of 10. That’s the pick of the whole 16-day window, but honestly, for a beginner break, you’re looking at waist-high at best. Not a standout, just the least poor.

From Wednesday afternoon through to the end of the first week, it drops back to tiny, messy, or onshore. Thursday the 3rd and Friday the 4th are 2-2ft with weak energy and cross-off winds – clean but too small.

The second week is even more bleak. Saturday the 6th of September has a brief bump of 3ft from the SSW but with a period of just 6 seconds and poor energy. Monday the 8th shows 4ft from the SSW but it’s cross-onshore and choppy, with the wave comment still “poor surf conditions.” The 9th and 10th have some 3-5ft swell from the south but again onshore and choppy, with moderate energy – ruined by wind.

Friday the 11th of September morning gives us a clean, small 2ft from the south with light cross-offshore wind, and the wave comment says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” That’s the second half’s only flicker.

So, overall: not much to get excited about. If you’re a beginner and just want a clean, small wave to practise on, Wednesday morning the 2nd is your best bet. Otherwise, leave the board in the car. The ocean’s taking a nap.

Rusty.

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