Pescaderos Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Hey crew, Rusty here. Let’s break down the Pescaderos stretch for the next couple of weeks. I’ll be honest, there’s a lot of waiting around, but a couple of windows pop open if you’re keen.

Water temp is running about 72°F, which is a solid 8°F warmer than usual for this time of year. That’s a real treat for a late-season paddle.

Your first real chance of getting wet is Sunday, September 13th in the morning. We’ve got some swell coming in at about 4ft from the WNW, with a short period of 9 seconds. The wind is a light cross-shore, so it’s not perfect but it’s workable. Combined energy is moderate at 347, so there’s some push behind it. It’s a marginal call, but it’s the first wave of the outlook worth mentioning. The afternoon fades away, so hit the water early.

Then it goes quiet again until Saturday, September 19th. The afternoon brings a small pulse of 2ft from the SW with a very long 18-second period – that’s proper groundswell. The wind is light cross-off, so conditions are clean. Combined energy is 237, not huge, but that long period gives you some glide. It’s a patient surfer’s wave.

The standout session is Sunday, September 20th afternoon. Same SW swell at 2ft with an 18-second period, but the energy jumps to 533 – that’s a solid moderate push. Wind is light cross-off from the WNW, so it’s clean and glassy. For the size, this is your best bet. Crowds can be a thing here sometimes, so get out early if you can.

Now, Monday, September 21st afternoon gets interesting but not for everyone. Swell jumps to 8ft from the WNW, but with a period of only 6 seconds – that’s choppy, short-period windswell. The wind is cross-off but blowing a fresh 19 mph, so it’s clean but powerful. Combined energy is a strong 705. That’s too big for beginners (over 5ft is expert territory) and with that short period and strong wind, this setup looks more fun for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer.

From Tuesday, September 22nd onward, it’s all small, weak, and mostly forgettable. A few clean afternoons with cross-off winds, but wave heights are tiny – around 2ft to 2ft – and energy stays low. Nothing to get excited about in the second week.

So, bottom line: Sunday the 20th afternoon is your best shot for a clean, long-period small wave. Sunday the 13th morning is a backup if you’re itching. The rest is a flat spell. But don’t lose hope – things can change, and it usually doesn’t stay quiet forever around here.

Rusty out.

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