Pescaderos Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s cut to it. The next couple of weeks are going to test your patience if you’re looking for waves. We’ve got a long stretch of small, mostly junky surf, with only a couple of brief windows that might get the heart rate up.

We’re looking at a slow start to the month. For the first few days, the swell is tiny, only 1ft to 2ft, and the wind is all over the shop, mostly cross or cross-off. It’s clean enough at times, but there’s just no power behind it. The energy is weak, with readings like 138 and 190 (units) for the combined swell. It’s the kind of surf you’d only bother with if you’re desperate for a splash, not a real ride. This stretch runs from Tuesday the 1st through Thursday the 3rd, and it’s pretty grim.

Things start to change a bit on Friday the 4th. The swell bumps up slightly, hitting 3ft with a solid 17-second period. The energy is now moderate at 463 (units), but the wind goes cross-on, messing up the surface. It’s still marginal, to be honest. The waves are there but they’re not well-organized.

The weekend is when we get our first real chance. Saturday the 5th sees the swell build to 3ft, and by Sunday the 6th, we’re looking at 5ft with a 15-16 second period. The energy jumps to over 900 (units), which is the most we’ll see for a while. Sunday afternoon is the standout of this period. The wind goes completely glassy, the rain is light, and the conditions are described as “very good.” This is the pick of the bunch for a while, folks. Even Monday the 7th morning, with a bit of heavy rain and light cross-off wind, will offer similar size – around 5ft from the SSE – and should still be clean.

But, and there’s always a but, that’s the peak. From Monday afternoon onwards, it fades. By Tuesday the 8th, the swell drops back to under 3ft and the period crashes to 9 seconds. It’s messy, and the energy falls away quickly. The rest of that week and into the following week is a real grind. We’re looking at small waves, 1ft to 2ft, with weak energy readings often below 300 (units). The wind is mostly light, so there are moments when it looks clean, but it’s just tiny. Tuesday the 10th morning might have a small clean window with a 17-second period at 2ft, but it’s still very small.

After that, it’s a boring stretch. From the 12th through the 16th, we’re stuck with the same story: below 2ft, weak energy, and ordinary conditions. There’s no punch, no push. The long-range stuff, like the 10th, is promising in terms of period but just doesn't have the size.

So, where does that leave us? All of this action is at Pescaderos. With this swell direction coming from the SSE, this fairly exposed spot will be the go-to. The standout is definitely Sunday afternoon, September 6th. That’s the one to circle on the calendar. The 5ft of SSE swell, with that long 16-second period and glassy conditions, is going to be the most fun you’ll have for the next 16 days. Monday morning might also be worth a paddle if you can handle the rain.

Keep your expectations low for the rest of the time. The surf is here, but it’s not going to be world-class. This is a waiting game, and most days will be a battle for a mediocre wave. It’s not great, but that’s the nature of this stretch.

Alright, that’s what I’ve got. Stay patient.

Rusty.

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