Playa Santa Catalina Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, surfers, Rusty here. We’ve got a solid run of clean, small waves ahead at Playa Santa Catalina. The water is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year, sitting at 86°, so you can leave the thick wetsuit at home.

The pattern is straightforward: a long stretch of fun, rideable waves with plenty of morning sessions in the clear. The standouts are the mornings from Wednesday the 15th right through to the end of the month. We’re looking at clean, offshore winds on most mornings, with the swell hovering around 3 ft to 3 ft from the SSW, which is the sweet spot for this break. The period is generally in the 12-14 second range, giving the waves some real shape. The combined energy is moderate, sitting around 300-400 range, meaning there’s enough push for a fun session without it being a beast.

The absolute best of the best? I’d say Friday the 17th morning is a gem – 3 ft of SSW swell, light offshore breeze from the north, and the energy is solid (369). It’s going to be a ripper. Also, keep your eye on the 26th of July (Sunday) afternoon. The energy jumps up to 587, with a clean cross-off wind, and it's looking like the best quality of the whole run. That’s a session to circle on the calendar.

Now, a word of caution for the beginners. The biggest waves hit around 3 ft, so it’s all pretty manageable. Nothing gets over 5 ft, so it’s a green light for almost everyone.

There are a few afternoons that get chopped up by onshore winds, but the mornings are where it’s at. The 15th and 16th afternoons are poor, but the glassy Friday afternoon on the 17th is a nice exception. The crowds can be a factor here sometimes, so get in early for the cleanest lineup.

The second week keeps the same theme. The 23rd of July Thursday afternoon is a weird one – a 3 ft wave but with a short period of 7 seconds, so it’ll be a bit crumbly. The real treat in the second week is the 24th of July Friday morning. The period jumps to a massive 24 seconds, and the energy is strong (411). That’s a long-range groundswell that will peel perfectly down this point. Get ready for long, clean rides.

The 27th of July Monday morning has the strongest energy of the whole run (628), but it’s got a 16 mph cross-off wind, so it’ll be a bit bumpy. The 29th of July Wednesday morning is another glassy standout with 3 ft and a 16-second period, and the energy is still strong (575).

Overall, it’s a great run with no real gaps. The mornings are the ticket, and the 17th and 26th are the true standouts.

- Rusty

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