Roca Alta Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Righto, let’s get into it.

Alright, the story this fortnight is pretty quiet overall, with a proper window of clean waves looking a couple of weeks away. Most of the time you’re looking at small, low-energy junk that’s blown out or onshore. But hang in there, because there are glimmers worth waiting for.

The first window is a bit underwhelming. Swell’s small and the wind’s messy through Friday the 24th and Saturday the 25th. You won’t wanna paddle out in that.

Then we get into a murky patch. Sunday the 26th morning sees a bump in energy, with 6ft from the ENE and a 9-second period, but the wind is cross, keeping it rough. The afternoon, though, is a teaser: glassy wind at Roca Alta, swell 5ft ENE at 9 seconds, with moderate wave energy (413). It’s the first half-decent chance, but the tide might be weird — still, a lovely afternoon session if you can line it up. Crowds are sometimes a thing here, so be ready for company.

Monday the 27th and Tuesday the 28th drop off again — small, crummy, onshore or cross-onshore junk. Not worth the leash.

Wednesday the 29th morning is a total dud: 3ft, glassy, with weak energy (114) and ordinary conditions. That’s a paddling-around morning, not a surfing one.

Things start to look more promising towards the end of the first week. Thursday the 30th morning pushes 5ft ENE at 9 seconds, moderate energy (398), but cross wind still messes with it. Friday the 31st morning shows 6ft ENE at 10 seconds, now with moderate to strong energy (678) — bigger but still cross-onshore. Not clean.

Now, the real standout: Saturday the 1st of August morning at Roca Alta. You’ve got solid 7ft of ENE swell running at 10 seconds, with strong energy (848). The wind is cross from the WNW at 6 mph — that’s light cross, so the face should be workable. This is advanced territory — 7ft is big for most folks, definitely not for beginners. The swell direction (ENE) is not the optimum NE, but there’s enough size and period to get some proper reef slabs. Crowds are sometimes a factor, so expect a handful of locals.

Then we hit another quiet period. Sunday the 2nd of August morning offers clean glassy conditions with 5ft ENE at 9 seconds and moderate energy (407) — that’s a nice morning cruiser, but the size is more friendly.

The second week drags a bit until Thursday the 6th of August morning rolls in. This is the highlight of the whole outlook. Roca Alta sees 6ft ENE at 10 seconds, glassy wind from the ENE at 0 mph — dead calm. Very good surf conditions, strong energy (711). The swell direction aligns nicely with the ENE swell, the period’s solid at 10 seconds, and clean, offshore-ish light. This is the session to circle on your calendar. Still, at 6ft it’s pushing beyond beginner territory but fine for intermediates who know the reef.

After that, Friday the 7th and Saturday the 8th slip back into poor, small, onshore slop. Not much to get excited about.

So, the best on offer is Thursday the 6th of August morning for the cleanest, most powerful waves, and Saturday the 1st of August morning as a bigger, gruntier option if you can handle 7ft with a light crosswind.

Roca Alta is a reef break, so expect longer-period groundswell to line up well, with longer lulls between sets making the paddle out easier. That ENE swell is a little off the optimum NE direction, but the size and clean wind more than compensate.

Water temp is 84°, about normal for this time of year — nothing wild.

Signing off, Rusty.

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