Pismo Beach Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s coming up for Pismo Beach Pier over the next 16 days. I’ll be straight with you – this is a bit of a waiting game, but there are a couple of moments that might get your heart pumping.

First thing’s first, the water’s sitting at 61°, which is about 2° cooler than what’s normal for this time of year. Nothing wild, just a touch of autumn chill creeping in.

We start off with a slow burn. The first few days of September are pretty lackluster. You’ve got tiny, weak swell and wind that’s mostly cross or cross-onshore, leaving the surface a bit bumpy. The energy is low, with readings in the 160s (164) to 200s (201) – not enough to get excited about. It’s not until the 4th of September, Friday morning, that you start to see a pulse. The swell bumps up to 3ft from the SW, with a long period of 17 seconds and the combined energy jumps to 835. That’s a solid groundswell. The problem is the wind is cross-onshore, so it’s going to be a bit messy. Still, there’s potential for a sneaky one if the tide lines up. The morning of the 5th (Saturday) is similar, with 3ft from the SSW and lighter winds, but still cross-onshore.

Now, here’s the standout. Keep your eyes on Monday the 7th of September. The morning is okay, but the afternoon is where it’s at. The swell hovers around 6ft from the SSW, with a period of 14 seconds and the combined energy clocks in at 1246 – that’s a solid, moderate-to-strong push. The wind goes light and cross-shore, which means the surface will be reasonably clean. This is your best bet for the whole forecast. For an advanced surfer, this is the one to paddle out for. The waves will have some size and shape, but at 6ft, it’s getting into the territory where beginners might want to sit this one out. That long period groundswell will be offering nice lines, though it might be a bit fat at a beach break like this.

The energy drops off after that. By the 8th and 9th, the swell is fading, and the wind turns cross-onshore again. The 10th of September sees a brief uptick in period (17 seconds) but the height is only 2ft, so it’s a tease. The 11th and 12th are weak, and by the 13th, we get a weird little spike of 5ft from the WNW, but with a period of only 6 seconds. That’s just wind chop – short, weak, and messy. Not worth your time.

The last few days of the run (14th through 16th) are a washout. Tiny swell, cross-onshore wind, and low energy readings in the 100s and 200s. It’s a quiet end to the outlook.

So, to sum it up: the real action is the afternoon of Monday the 7th of September. Go get it. The rest of the window is a lot of meh, with a few marginal windows on the 4th and 5th mornings if you’re desperate. The crowds are listed as “sometimes” here, so you might have some company, but it’s not a circus.

This is Rusty, signing off.

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