Playa Santa Catalina Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright crew, Rusty here. Let’s have a good look at what’s coming down the line for this spot. We’ve only got one break in play: Playa Santa Catalina, a point break that’s very consistent, exposed to the SSW, and needs a clean offshore from the north to really sing. The water’s sitting at a warm 86°, a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so you’ll be comfy in boardshorts or a light top.

Right out of the gate, Monday the 31st is a bit of a mixed bag. The morning shows some promise with a clean 3 ft swell from the SSW at 13 seconds, light cross-off wind and moderate combined energy (310). It’s surfable but not a standout. The afternoon turns messy as the wind swings onshore, so don’t expect much.

Tuesday the 1st and Wednesday the 2nd are where we start to see some proper windows. Tuesday morning glassy conditions with 3 ft SSW at 12 seconds, and Wednesday morning is glassy with a longer 13 second period and a bump in energy to 356. The waves are small but clean – perfect for a longboard or a funboard session without the crowds getting too heavy.

Now, Friday the 4th of September and Saturday the 5th are the real highlights of this outlook. Friday morning delivers a clean 3 ft SSW groundswell with a very long 17 second period, glassy as a mirror, and the combined energy jumps to 673. That’s the kind of quality that has you checking your wax and texting your mates. Saturday morning is even better for size: 4 ft SSW at 16 seconds, still glassy, with energy at 778. These two mornings are your best bets – clean, long-period lines wrapping into the point. The caveat with 17 second swell is it can run a bit straight at beach breaks, but on a point like Santa Catalina, it’ll set up beautifully with proper shape and long rides.

From Sunday the 6th into the second week, the swell ebbs and flows but never really fires again. Mornings stay reasonably clean with north to northeast glassy or cross-off winds and swell around 2 ft to 3 ft, but the energy drops back under 500. Afternoons are mostly a write-off with onshore wind. The little spike on Friday the 11th morning (3 ft, 16 seconds, cross-off) is worth noting for a quick dawny. By Sunday the 13th and into the 15th, the swell drops to 2 ft to 3 ft with moderate energy (170 to 283). It’s still surfable on the right tide, but you’ll be working for it.

Overall, don’t sleep on the Friday 4th and Saturday 5th morning sessions. Those are the standout windows. The rest of the fortnight has a few clean morning windows scattered through, but nothing that’ll have you calling in sick.

Rusty.

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