Playa Santa Catalina Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, let’s break it down.

We’ve got a classic SSW groundswell setting up for Playa Santa Catalina, and it’s looking like a really promising stretch of clean, long-period surf coming through, especially for those who can handle the consistency and a bit of crowd presence.

The water is sitting at a notable 86°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year – you’ll be comfortable in a shorty or just boardshorts.

The standout window kicks off on Wednesday the 29th. First light is the real deal: the swell is pushing in at 4 ft from the SSW with a very long 16-second period, combined energy is strong at 736. With a light offshore breeze from the NNE, it’s going to be clean, well-shaped, and powerful. This is the peak of the run. For experts only due to the solid size and energy, but if you’re on it, you’re in for a treat. The afternoon holds at 3 ft and 16 seconds, shifting to a cross-off, still very clean.

Thursday morning the 30th drops to 3 ft with a 14-second period, light offshore again, and combined energy at 462. Still very good, just a notch down. But Thursday afternoon, that risk of thunderstorms brings in cross-onshore wind and it goes to mush – skip it.

Friday the 31st morning is clean again at 3 ft and 13 seconds, cross-off wind, good shape. The afternoons are consistently getting trashed by stormy cross-onshore winds, so focus on the mornings.

Saturday August 1st is a gem of a morning: glassy conditions, 3 ft with a 13-second period, and the combined energy is moderate at 239. For a morning session, it’ll be dreamy – small but clean and fun, perfect for a relaxed paddle. Sunday morning the 2nd is also glassy but smaller at 2 ft – surfable but ordinary.

Monday the 3rd is tiny – only 1 ft – and glassy, but honestly, it’s a flat spell. The next real highlight pops up on Tuesday the 5th? No, wait. Let’s look ahead. The real second standout lands on Saturday August 8th. That morning delivers a clean, 3 ft SSW swell with a 16-second period, light offshore from the NNE, and combined energy jumps up to 602 – very strong. This is the best on offer after the 29th. It’s a nearly identical setup to that first Wednesday, and with the break being very consistent, you can bank on quality waves.

The week after that stays small but clean most mornings, with the occasional longer period spike (like 18 seconds on Thursday August 7th morning at 2 ft, and again on Wednesday August 12th morning at 2 ft). These are small but the period is very long, so the point break nature of Playa Santa Catalina will really let them peel – low-energy but clean and shapey for experienced surfers.

To sum it up: the absolute best is Wednesday July 29th morning, with Saturday August 8th morning as a very close second. Both offer solid, clean, powerful SSW groundswell with light offshore winds. You’re going to have to share the water – crowds are possible – but for this quality, it’s worth it.

Rusty.

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