Pelican Watch Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards.

Right now, things are looking pretty quiet. The first surf worth paddling out for doesn’t show up until Monday September 14th, and even then it’s nothing to get excited about. There’s a real dry spell through the middle of the month, with only a few tiny, weak waves and mostly onshore or choppy conditions. That run of poor surf stretches almost all the way through until the end of the third week, so we’re looking at a solid ten days or so of very ordinary conditions.

Monday September 14th kicks things off with a small 2ft swell from the SE at 9 seconds, hitting Pelican Watch. The water temp is a warm 82°, which is about 1° above the norm – pretty average for this time of year. The morning shows clean conditions with a light NW cross-offshore breeze, so if you’re a beginner and just want to get wet, it’s surfable. The combined swell energy is weak (53). Afternoon turns a bit messy with a cross-shore wind, and that’s about it.

From Tuesday September 15th through Sunday September 20th, it’s a real struggle. Swells stay tiny, mostly under 3ft, with short periods between 6 and 8 seconds. Winds are generally onshore or cross-onshore, and the wave quality is poor. There’s a moment on Saturday morning the 19th when it’s glassy, but the swell is only 1ft – barely a ripple. Combined energy readings are all below 100, often in the teens or thirties. Not worth rushing out for.

Monday September 21st through Thursday September 24th is more of the same – small SE and E swells, weak energy, and only a few clean windows with cross-offshore winds. On Thursday afternoon, the swell stays tiny at 2ft but conditions go glassy with a light WNW breeze, and the combined energy bumps up slightly to 61. It’s still very small, but it’s the cleanest the water’s been in a while.

Now, the standout window arrives late in the forecast, starting Friday September 25th. The morning sees a jump to 5ft from the ENE, but a moderate cross-shore wind and 8-second period makes it a bit lumpy. The real action is Friday afternoon: 5ft from the ENE with a 9-second period, clean cross-offshore winds from the SSW, and combined energy ramping up to 304 – that’s moderate energy. This is the first proper session in weeks.

Saturday September 26th morning looks even better. Swell builds to 5ft from the E at 9 seconds, light SW cross-offshore breeze, and the combined energy hits 430 – solid. The waves will be clean and have some push. By the afternoon, it jumps to 7ft from the ENE, but the wind goes light cross-shore and conditions become a bit more marginal for paddle surfing. That size is getting into expert territory if you’re not confident.

Sunday September 27th is the pick of the whole period. Morning brings 6ft from the ENE at 8 seconds with a light N cross-offshore breeze and combined energy of 461. Then Sunday afternoon is absolute glass – 7ft from the E, calm winds, zero breeze. Combined energy is 393. That’s clean, punchy, and lined up. This is the session to circle on the calendar. Just be aware the period is on the shorter side (7 seconds), so the waves might be a bit crumbly, but with that size and glassy conditions, Pelican Watch will be offering some fun, forgiving waves.

After that, Monday September 28th and Tuesday September 29th see the swell drop back down to 4ft and then 2ft, with onshore winds creeping back in. It’s a rapid fade-out.

Pelican Watch is a beginner-friendly, exposed beach break. The optimum swell direction is from the SE, and through the standout period we’re seeing swell from the ENE and E – that’s close enough to work. Crowds are listed as ‘often’, so expect company on the good days, especially Sunday the 27th.

Overall, the first couple of weeks are a write-off, but the final weekend – Friday the 25th through Sunday the 27th – delivers the goods. Sunday is the standout. Get it while it lasts.

Rusty.

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