
Surf Forecasts:
Pescaderos surf forecast from 24 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 24 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 24s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 25 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 21s period, SSW swell with 584 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 23 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 6s period with WNW 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 Thursday (Jul 23) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 12s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 13s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Pescaderos in the next 16 days are 0.8m 21s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 25) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 6s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 25) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Thu 23rd Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Fri 24th Jul) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 24s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Sat 25th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 21s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pescaderos over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's take a look at what's on the menu for the next couple of weeks.
Honestly, I have to be straight with you: this is a lean stretch ahead. The whole 16-day window is looking pretty marginal, with no real standout sessions that'll have you ringing your mates. The first few days bring some small, clean swell, but it's just not packing the punch we want. Starting Thursday, July 23rd, we’ve got some tiny 2ft swell from the SSE with a long 13-second period, but the combined energy is weak (349) and the wind is a light cross-shore, so it’s glassy but gutless. The water is much warmer than usual for this time of year, sitting at 69°F with a massive 7°F anomaly.
The swell bumps up a bit on Thursday afternoon to 6ft from the WNW, but the period drops to a tiny 6 seconds, which is just wind slop. That’s more of a kite-surfing vibe than a proper paddle session. The next week is a rinse and repeat of small, weak swells. Friday the 24th through to the end of July sees constant swell between 1ft and 4ft, with periods that look good on paper (over 15 seconds) but the wave energy is moderate at best, ranging from 353 to 758. The winds are light and mostly cross or cross-onshore, so it’ll be clean for the most part, but the waves just won't have any push.
Around the 31st of July and into the 1st of August, we see a little more size, up to 4ft from the SSE, but again, the period is short at 12-15 seconds, and the combined energy tops out around 690 (moderate). Still, the conditions are clean with light breezes. Then from the 2nd of August onward, it really falls off a cliff. The swells are onshore, weak, and the energy drops to as low as 75 by the 4th of August. The water temperature anomaly isn't provided, but the outlook is poor. The 5th through the 7th of August are all poor surf conditions with energy below 150. It’s a long, flat run.
Pescaderos is the only break in the frame, and it's a beginner-friendly, fairly consistent spot. The crowds are sometimes there, so you might have some company. The optimum swell direction is WSW, which we see a bit of around the 24th-26th of July, but the swell height is just too small to get excited about. There’s no standout day here; the best you could hope for is a clean, small wave session on a longboard on the 25th or 26th of July, with 2ft to 2ft from the SSW and light cross-shore winds. It’s not going to be epic, but it’ll be a nice paddle.
Keep the board in the car and check the forecast again in a few days. It tends not to stay this poor for long.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 31°C on Thu afternoon, min 22°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Sun afternoon, min 22°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 13 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | SSW 24 | SW 24 | SW 21 | SSW 21 | SSW 21 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 19 | SSW 17 | SW 17 | SSW 17 | SW 16 | S 17 | SW 16 | SSW 16 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
137 | 220 | 215 | 368 | 141 | 467 | 404 | 288 | 546 | 384 | 327 | 399 | 408 | 325 | 377 | 358 | 377 | 274 | 215 | 258 | 164 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | off | cross | cross | glassy | cross | cross | off | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross | cross | glassy |
High Tide | 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 | 11:22AM1.52m | 10:03PM2.15m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 3:54PM1.07m | ||||||||
6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | |
— | 8:07 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:05 | — | — | 8:04 | — | — | 8:02 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 29 | 31 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 26 | 29 | 31 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 28 | 25 |
Feels °C | 28 | 30 | 24 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 30 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 28 | 25 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 13 | S 12 | WNW 7 | W 8 | WNW 7 | SW 21 | WNW 8 | SSW 21 | SW 19 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | W 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | SSW 17 | WNW 9 | W 9 | WNW 8 | SSW 16 |
137 | 110 | 189 | 115 | 89 | 467 | 101 | 288 | 546 | 140 | 104 | 177 | 109 | 131 | 171 | 162 | 377 | 213 | 154 | 112 | 164 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | S 12 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | SSW 21 | S 10 | SSW 12 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 19 | SSW 17 | SW 17 | S 19 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSE 15 |
104 | 69 | 80 | 165 | 116 | 67 | 404 | 18 | 46 | 384 | 327 | 399 | 408 | 325 | 377 | 358 | 112 | 274 | 206 | 258 | 85 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | SW 26 | SSW 13 | SSW 24 | SW 24 | SW 16 | S 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | S 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 12 | SW 16 | SW 10 | S 18 | SE 15 | S 16 | S 17 | S 16 | S 16 |
13 | 105 | 68 | 368 | 141 | 10 | 44 | 14 | 46 | 24 | 12 | 23 | 14 | 129 | 4 | 98 | 9 | 139 | 215 | 79 | 77 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | — | WNW 8 | WNW 6 | — | WNW 8 | NW 7 | WNW 8 | — | WNW 8 | NW 3 | WNW 8 | WNW 5 | — | — | WNW 8 |
95 | 220 | 215 | 110 | 104 | 87 | — | 120 | 156 | — | 69 | 211 | 75 | — | 171 | 2 | 184 | 46 | — | — | 123 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 77 | 0 | 143 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 41 | 1 | 0 | 150 | 35 | 0 | 143 | 1 | 0 | 150 | 1 | 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.










