Surf Forecasts:
Pescaderos surf forecast from 21 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 25 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 17s period, S swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 26 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 14s period, SSE swell with 313 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 13s 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 Friday (Aug 21) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 5s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Pescaderos in the next 16 days are 0.9m 14s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.7m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Tue 25th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Wed 26th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pescaderos over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, folks, let’s look at what’s on the menu down at Pescaderos. This is a beginner-friendly, fairly consistent spot, pretty exposed to the swell, and it likes the swell from the WSW direction. The water temperature here is sitting right about where you’d expect for this time of year, so no nasty surprises on that front.
Honestly, the first week is a bit of a slow burner. We’re looking at a lot of small, weak surf with poor quality. From Friday the 21st right through the weekend and into the start of the following week, it’s mostly tiny waves in the 1 ft range, with a weak combined energy hanging around 138 to 207 (combined energy). The winds are light and cross-shore, so it’s not blowing out, but there’s just not enough push to get excited about. A few afternoons, like Monday the 24th and Tuesday the 25th, you’ll see the wind go a little cross-offshore, cleaning things up, but the waves are still feeble. You’d be scratching for anything rideable.
There’s a bit of a pulse mid-week, around Wednesday the 26th. The swell picks up to 3 ft from the S with a 13-second period, and the combined energy jumps to 415 (combined energy). It’s still marginal, but the Wednesday afternoon shows a cleaner, cross-offshore wind, and the report says “expect good surf conditions.” That’s the first real window where you might get a few fun, small waves. Thursday the 27th is similar, with a little more size (3 ft) and the same S swell, but the wind swings a bit onshore in the morning, so aim for the afternoon.
The following weekend, from Saturday the 29th into Sunday the 30th, is where we start to see some consistency. The swell stays around 2 ft to 3 ft, but the period stretches out to 16-18 seconds, which gives the waves a bit more shape and energy. Sunday morning the 30th is a standout in this period: clean, cross-offshore wind, 3 ft from the SSW with a 15-second period, and a combined energy of 405 (combined energy). That’s the best wave of the first two weeks, no doubt. The afternoon gets a bit windier, so get on it early.
Then we hit a bit of a funky patch from Monday the 31st. The swell direction swings to the WNW, and the size jumps up to 5 ft to 6 ft, but the period drops right off to 6-9 seconds. That’s a short-period, choppy windswell, and the combined energy is moderate to strong (582-394 combined energy), but the quality is marginal. This is more for the experienced crew, as anything over 5 ft can be a handful for beginners, and the short period means it’ll be a bit messy.
The real buzz, the one you’ve been waiting for, kicks off on Thursday the 3rd of September. The swell from the SSE comes in with a solid 3 ft to 4 ft, a long 16-second period, and the combined energy is pumping at 1057 to 1129 (combined energy). That’s strong energy, proper groundswell. The wind is light and cross-shore, keeping it clean. This is a serious swell for the area, and it’s shaping up to be a cracker.
And then, the absolute gem of the whole forecast – Saturday morning the 5th of September. We’ve got 4 ft from the SSE with a 14-second period, combined energy of 911 (combined energy), and the wind is glassy. That’s right, glassy. The report says “expect very good surf conditions.” That’s your day. Pescaderos is going to be clean, lined up, and running. Get in the water early.
Now, a word of caution: this is a beginner break, so when the swell is over 5 ft or 6 ft, it’s going to be pushing the limits for less experienced surfers. The long-period swells, especially those 15-second and 16-second ones, are best for point breaks and reefs, but Pescaderos is a beach break, so those long-period sets might break a bit too fast and close out. Keep that in mind.
So, to sum it up: the first week is a write-off for anything decent. The Sunday morning of the 30th of August is your first real highlight. But the big winner is the first weekend of September, particularly Saturday morning the 5th. That’s the one to circle on the calendar. The long-range stuff looks promising, but remember, it’s less certain, so keep an eye on the forecasts as we get closer.
Stay stoked,
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Fri afternoon, min 24°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 35°C on Tue afternoon, min 26°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | |||||||||||||||
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 13 | SW 18 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | WNW 7 | SSW 15 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | S 17 | SSE 15 | SSE 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | WNW 8 | SSW 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
59 | 58 | 57 | 56 | 71 | 71 | 89 | 79 | 112 | 109 | 98 | 135 | 132 | 210 | 288 | 299 | 276 | 251 | 233 | 184 | 239 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | off | cross | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | glassy |
High Tide | 8:37AM1.33m | 5:31PM1.81m | 8:55AM1.39m | 6:29PM1.88m | 9:13AM1.44m | 7:17PM1.97m | 9:31AM1.49m | 7:57PM2.04m | 9:50AM1.54m | 8:34PM2.09m | 10:09AM1.59m | 9:10PM2.11m | 10:30AM1.66m | 9:45PM2.07m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:39AM1.31m | 1:34AM0.49m | 12:14PM1.30m | 2:13AM0.40m | 1:10PM1.24m | 2:46AM0.33m | 1:52PM1.16m | 3:15AM0.27m | 2:29PM1.07m | 3:42AM0.25m | 3:05PM0.98m | 4:07AM0.27m | 3:43PM0.89m | 4:32AM0.32m | |||||||
6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | |
— | 7:39 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:36 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:32 | — | — | 7:31 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 30 | 31 | 29 | 34 | 35 | 30 | 34 | 34 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 27 |
Feels °C | 27 | 29 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 26 | 31 | 32 | 26 | 32 | 31 | 26 | 30 | 31 | 25 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 5 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | W 6 | SSW 14 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | S 17 | SSE 15 | SSE 13 | S 13 | S 12 | WNW 8 | S 12 | SSW 13 |
15 | 58 | 57 | 27 | 41 | 25 | 81 | 57 | 112 | 109 | 98 | 135 | 132 | 210 | 288 | 299 | 276 | 251 | 144 | 184 | 239 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | SSW 15 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SSW 14 | S 14 | SSW 12 | S 13 | S 13 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | S 12 | W 12 | W 11 |
59 | 40 | 23 | 40 | 18 | 71 | 89 | 79 | 65 | 37 | 29 | 55 | 54 | 91 | 89 | 122 | 88 | 76 | 233 | 44 | 40 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 11 | SW 18 | WSW 18 | SSW 13 | SW 17 | SSW 19 | SSW 13 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | SSW 14 | S 14 | SSE 10 | SSE 17 | SSE 12 | SSW 16 | W 14 | W 13 | W 13 | W 12 | SW 14 | SW 18 |
40 | 48 | 30 | 56 | 43 | 37 | 32 | 16 | 15 | 41 | 36 | 10 | 30 | 30 | 50 | 37 | 55 | 30 | 46 | 33 | 48 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 6 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 5 | — | WNW 7 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 6 |
20 | 28 | 51 | 38 | 71 | 46 | — | 71 | 44 | 36 | 88 | 83 | 78 | 172 | 111 | 100 | 166 | 126 | 130 | 181 | 148 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 150 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 0 | 1 | 35 | 0 | 52 | 0 | 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.











