Pescaderos Surf Forecast and Surf Report

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Alright, mate, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – the next 16 days at Pescaderos are a mixed bag, and honestly, not a lot to get properly excited about. It’s a real slow start, and for the first several days, the surf is just not happening. The first real glimmer of something surfable doesn't pop up until Wednesday, July 15th, and even then, it’s marginal.

So, let’s break it down. The first few days, from Monday, July 13th through to Tuesday, July 14th, are a total write-off. Tiny, weak swell with poor surf conditions. The water temp is sitting at 64°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, but that’s about the only consolation.

We finally see a pulse on Wednesday, July 15th. The morning brings a 3ft swell from the WNW, but the period is a short, weak 7 seconds, so it’s going to be a bit crumbly. The energy is moderate (267). The afternoon bumps up a bit with 5ft from the same direction, but again, a short period of 6 seconds. The wind is a light cross-off, which will keep it clean, but the short period means it’s not going to have much punch. It’s still a marginal day, but it’s the best we’ve seen so far.

Thursday, July 16th, is the first day that genuinely catches my eye. The morning is a bit messy with 4ft from the WNW, but the afternoon is where it’s at. We get 5ft from the WNW, an 8-second period, and the combined energy is a solid 419. The wind is a light cross-off, so it’s clean. The forecast says "expect good surf conditions." This is the standout of the whole window. If you’ve got a window, Thursday afternoon at Pescaderos is the one to aim for. The swell is coming from the WNW, which is close to the optimum from the WSW, so it’s a decent match.

After that, the week rolls into a pattern of small, marginal surf. Friday, July 17th, through to Sunday, July 20th, sees a mix of 2ft to 4ft swells, mostly from the SW and WNW, with light cross or cross-onshore winds. The energy is moderate, but nothing is clean enough to get the heart racing. The waves are there, but the quality is just ordinary.

Then, a bit of a surprise on Wednesday, July 22nd. It’s still small, but the swell direction swings to the SSW, and the period is a long 14 seconds. The energy is a moderate 323. The winds are light cross-shore, so it’s not blown out, but the swell is small. It’s a classic case of long-period groundswell that might break a bit straight at the beach, but it’s worth a look if you’re keen.

The next real flicker of life comes on Thursday, July 23rd. The morning is a bit messy with a 3ft SSE swell and a cross-onshore wind, but the afternoon is a total gem. The wind drops to absolute glass – 0 mph – and the swell is 3ft from the SSE with a 14-second period. The energy is strong (436), and the conditions are "glassy." This is the second best of the whole run. If you can get out on Thursday afternoon, July 23rd, it’s going to be a beautiful, clean session.

The final week, from July 24th to 28th, is a slow fade. The swell drops back to 2ft to 3ft, mostly from the S and SSW, with light cross winds. The energy is moderate, but the quality is just "marginal" or "ordinary." The period on the 26th and 27th is long (19 seconds and 18 seconds), which suggests proper groundswell, but the size is too small to make the most of it. The 28th is another small, forgettable day.

So, to sum it up: the best on offer is Thursday afternoon, July 16th, with 5ft of clean, cross-off WNW swell, and a close second is Thursday afternoon, July 23rd, with glassy conditions and a 3ft SSE groundswell. Everything else is small, marginal, and not worth the drive unless you’re desperate. The crowds at Pescaderos are sometimes an issue, but on these days, it’s likely manageable.

This is Rusty, signing off.

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