Pescaderos Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let's get into it. This is Rusty, and I’m looking at the forecast for Pescaderos.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – the next week and a half is mostly a write-off. We’ve got a long, slow grind of small, gutless swell and barely any proper wind. The first real chance to get excited doesn't show up until late in the window.

For the first few days, from Sunday the 23rd through the end of August, it’s tiny. We’re talking knee-high dribble, mostly around 1 ft to 2 ft of weak, short-period swell. The combined energy is nothing to write home about, sitting in the weak range (160-398). The wind is mostly light and cross, which keeps the surface clean-ish, but the waves are just too small to care about. The water temp is a very unusual 69°, which is over 5° warmer than normal for this time of year. That’s wild.

We get a little bump on the 29th with a 5 ft swell in the morning, but the period is a measly 9 seconds, so it’s a messy, weak windswell. The energy is moderate (590), but it’s still not worth paddling out for.

The surf stays weak and inconsistent through the end of the month. There’s a solid 7 ft on the afternoon of the 30th, but it’s a 6-second windswell – that’s just a washing machine, not a wave. The combined energy jumps to 508, but it’s all muscle and no grace.

Finally, things start to look up. Monday, the 31st of August, we get a better setup. The afternoon shows 4 ft of cross-offshore wind and clean conditions. The energy is moderate (336). It’s the first time the forecast says "expect good surf conditions," and I’d agree. It’s a small, fun option.

The real standout, though, is Wednesday, September 2nd. The afternoon kicks up to 6 ft of WNW swell. The wind is clean cross-offshore, and the combined energy is strong (401). That’s the best looking day in the whole forecast right there. It’s a bit much for beginners, but it’s a proper session for the experienced crew.

The following week gets even more interesting. Thursday the 3rd shows a 7 ft swell in the afternoon, but it’s another 6-second windswell, so it’s a mushy, crumbly wave. The energy is strong (692), but it’s not going to be well-shaped.

Then, Friday the 4th and Saturday the 5th of September are the real prizes. Friday afternoon sees 3 ft of SSW swell with a 16-second period – that’s proper groundswell energy. The combined energy is very strong (918) and the forecast says "expect very good surf conditions." Saturday afternoon is similar, with 3 ft of SSE swell, a 16-second period, and strong energy (745). Both days have clean, cross-offshore winds. The long period means better shape and more power, but it also means the sets will be more spaced out. For a spot like Pescaderos, which is a beginner break and fairly consistent, these long-period swells can be a bit tricky if the sandbars aren’t right, but the conditions are too good to ignore.

The last day in the forecast, Monday the 7th, holds a 3 ft S swell with a 14-second period and clean wind. The energy is moderate (538). It’s a solid option, but it’s not the highlight of the period.

So, to sum it up: the first eight days are a total bust. The best surf on offer is the afternoon of Wednesday, September 2nd, and then the standout sessions are the afternoons of Friday, September 4th and Saturday, September 5th. Those are the ones to circle on your calendar.

Keep it salty,
Rusty

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