Rolling Stones Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s talk about what’s going on at Rolling Stones. This is a tricky reef setup that needs a solid S direction swell and clean winds to really fire. It’s a spot for advanced surfers only, and it’s fairly consistent when the conditions line up, but it can also be a bit of a tease.

The forecast opens on Saturday morning, July 18, and we’ve got a decent pulse of energy. Swell is coming out of the SE at 5 ft, with a period of 14 seconds. That’s a proper groundswell, and the combined energy is strong (1425). The wind is a light WNW cross-off, which is gonna keep the surface pretty clean. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers, but it’s not a beginner wave. The water temperature is 55°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year. Saturday afternoon, the swell drops a little and wind swings to a light cross-on, so it’s less appealing.

Sunday morning, July 19, looks like a standout. Swell bumps up to 7 ft from the S, still a long-period 18 seconds, and the energy is pumping (3284). The wind is light W cross-off, keeping it clean. This is the kind of morning that gets the blood pumping. Sunday afternoon, the wind picks up and the quality drops fast.

Monday morning, July 20, isn’t bad, but it’s not as clean. Some cross-on wind, swell 6 ft from the S, period 15 seconds. The energy is still moderate (1974). Tuesday morning, July 21, is another excellent call: 8 ft S swell, 16-second period, light W cross-off, and the energy is strong (2691). Tuesday afternoon, the wind goes glassy, and the swell drops slightly to 7 ft. That glassy window is a golden moment.

After Tuesday, the surf fades. Wednesday and Thursday, July 22 and 23, are small and weak, with energy dropping into the hundreds. Then we hit a real dry spell. From Friday, July 24, through to Monday, July 27, the swell is tiny, the wind is messy, and there’s even rain. This is a stretch of nothing for the paddle surfer. The wind on the 25th and 26th is strong enough that a kite surfer might get a look at the lumpy cross-chop, but for a surfer? forget it.

Things start to look up again on Tuesday, July 28. Swell builds back to 5 ft from the SE, period 12 seconds, wind light cross-off, and the energy is decent (735). Wednesday, July 29, is the real standout of the second week. Swell jumps to 8 ft from the SE, period 14 seconds, wind light offshore from the NNW, and the energy is strong (1873). This is another excellent session for experienced surfers. Thursday, July 30, holds pretty well with 5 ft swell and clean conditions.

Then the wind ruins it again. Friday, July 31, through to Saturday, August 1, is a write-off: strong onshore winds, lumpy, rainy. Sunday, August 2, shows a little improvement with a clean 5 ft swell, but it’s small and the consistency is gone.

Overall, the best of the lot is Sunday morning, July 19, and Tuesday morning, July 21. The Wednesday the 29th is a promising long-range option, but it’s a week and a half away so keep an eye on it. Crowds are possible at Rolling Stones, so if you can get there early for those clean windows, you’ll be rewarded.

Rusty.

Read more