
Surf Forecasts:
Pescaderos surf forecast from 22 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 25 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 21s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 26 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 19s period, SSW swell with 480 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 22 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 15s period with SSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Pescaderos this week:
The surf forecast for Pescaderos over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Pescaderos in the next 16 days are 0.8m 19s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 26) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.9m 6s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Wed 22nd Jul) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Sat 25th Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 21s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Sun 26th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 19s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pescaderos over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s talk about this stretch of coast. To be straight with you, the next 16 days are looking pretty quiet overall. The swell is small and the energy is mostly weak, so don’t be expecting any big days. The first real chance to get wet is Wednesday the 22nd, but it’s not going to be anything special.
Wednesday morning at Pescaderos is the pick of the very early days. You’ve got a clean 2ft swell from the SSW with a nice long 14-second period, which means there’s some decent shape in the water. The wind is a light cross-offshore from the W at 9 mph, which will keep the surface clean. The combined energy is moderate (273). It’s a beginner-friendly spot and fairly consistent, so a good option for getting a few easy waves, but crowds are possible here. The water temp is about average for the time of year.
Thursday the 23rd sees a bit of a spike in the afternoon—swell hits 5ft, but it’s from the WNW with a short 6-second period, so it’s going to be weak and messy. That’s not really worth paddling out for. The energy is moderate (445), but the quality is poor.
Friday the 24th morning brings a tiny 2ft swell from the SSW with a very long 24-second period. That’s a groundswell, and while the period is impressive, the size is minimal. The energy is strong (700) but the wave height just isn’t there. The wind is light cross-shore, so it’s tidy, but not much to ride.
The weekend—Saturday the 25th and Sunday the 26th—is more of the same: small swells, around 2ft to 2ft, with moderate energy. Saturday afternoon has a clean cross-offshore wind, but the swell is tiny. Sunday turns onshore and messy.
The best chance in the whole run might be Tuesday the 28th afternoon. Swell comes up to 3ft from the SSW, with a 17-second period, giving moderate energy (744). The wind is light cross-shore, so it’s clean. It’s still small, but it’s the most promising session in the first week.
After that, it drops off. From the 29th of July through to the 6th of August, the swell stays under 3ft most days, with periods that are either short or just average. The energy drops into the low hundreds or even below 100 on some days. Several afternoons are clean, but the waves are just too small to get excited about. The 5th of August afternoon has a glassy 2ft from the SW, but it’s barely surfable.
Overall, there’s no standout day. The best you’ll find is a small, clean wave on the 28th afternoon. If you’re a beginner, some of the morning sessions with light wind and tiny swell might be okay for a float. But for anyone looking for real waves, this is a quiet stretch. Don’t write it off entirely—forecasts can change—but for now, keep your expectations low.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 32°C on Wed afternoon, min 23°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WNW on Wed afternoon, calm by Fri night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 31°C on Sat afternoon, min 20°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | SSW 24 | SW 24 | SW 21 | SSW 21 | SSW 21 | SSW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 19 | SSW 17 | SW 17 | SSW 17 | WNW 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
218 | 215 | 138 | 137 | 220 | 189 | 368 | 141 | 368 | 404 | 288 | 480 | 384 | 327 | 399 | 465 | 289 | 377 | 358 | 377 | 294 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross | cross-off | off | cross | cross | glassy | cross | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | glassy |
High Tide | 5:17PM1.89m | 8:06AM1.27m | 6:06PM1.92m | 9:02AM1.34m | 6:53PM1.97m | 9:37AM1.39m | 7:36PM2.03m | 10:04AM1.43m | 8:16PM2.10m | 10:30AM1.46m | 8:53PM2.15m | 10:56AM1.49m | 9:29PM2.17m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:07AM1.11m | 1:11AM0.58m | 11:12AM1.20m | 1:59AM0.47m | 12:20PM1.24m | 2:39AM0.37m | 1:15PM1.23m | 3:14AM0.29m | 2:00PM1.20m | 3:47AM0.23m | 2:39PM1.15m | 4:18AM0.20m | 3:16PM1.11m | 4:48AM0.19m | |||||||
6:01 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | |
— | 8:07 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:05 | — | — | 8:04 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 29 | 32 | 25 | 30 | 32 | 27 | 29 | 30 | 27 | 29 | 31 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 24 | 27 | 27 | 24 | 26 | 27 | 23 |
Feels °C | 27 | 28 | 20 | 28 | 31 | 25 | 29 | 31 | 27 | 29 | 31 | 27 | 29 | 30 | 25 | 28 | 28 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSE 13 | S 12 | S 12 | WNW 8 | W 8 | WNW 6 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | SSW 17 | WNW 9 |
218 | 215 | 138 | 137 | 110 | 112 | 163 | 124 | 101 | 109 | 109 | 171 | 147 | 87 | 147 | 120 | 90 | 171 | 151 | 377 | 294 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 8 | SW 20 | SSE 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | S 13 | S 13 | SW 21 | SSW 21 | SSW 21 | SSW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 19 | SSW 17 | SW 17 | S 19 | SW 16 |
40 | 15 | 116 | 104 | 69 | 68 | 165 | 117 | 368 | 404 | 288 | 480 | 384 | 327 | 399 | 465 | 289 | 377 | 358 | 112 | 271 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 20 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 26 | SSW 26 | SSW 24 | SW 24 | S 12 | S 12 | SSW 12 | S 12 | S 10 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SW 16 | SW 12 | S 18 | SW 11 | S 17 |
15 | 15 | 58 | 13 | 105 | 66 | 368 | 141 | 69 | 71 | 48 | 71 | 18 | 60 | 47 | 22 | 127 | 37 | 98 | 19 | 148 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 5 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | — | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | — | WNW 5 | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 8 | — | WNW 8 | WNW 9 |
64 | 209 | 239 | 121 | 220 | 189 | — | 138 | 134 | 73 | — | 86 | — | — | — | — | — | 161 | — | 197 | 286 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 35 | 77 | 0 | 1 | 35 | 0 | 143 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 41 | 21 | 1 | 150 | 1 | 1 | 150 | 24 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Santa Barbara | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Pescaderos Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Pescaderos provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Pescaderos can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Pescaderos surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Pescaderos) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Pescaderos may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Pescaderos is 1 km (1 miles) from Isla Vista. If you plan a vacation in Santa Barbara, look for hotels and other accommodation in Isla Vista. Isla Vista has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.










