Rolling Stones Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming down the line for Rolling Stones.

First up, the water is sitting at 55°, which is a bit colder than we’d normally expect for this time of year. You’ll want a good hood and gloves if you’re heading out.

The pattern kicks off Tuesday, July 21st with a solid 7ft swell from the south, but it’s a bit of a washout. The wave comment calls it marginal, with questionable tide, so don’t expect much. Wednesday, July 22nd is a beauty though. The swell drops to 4ft from the south with a 12-second period, and the wind goes glassy in the morning. That’s clean, smooth surf, but the overall energy is moderate (529). It’s a nice little session, but not a standout.

We’ve got a long gap of poor conditions after that. From Thursday, July 23rd right through to Sunday, July 26th, it’s mostly small, messy, or blown out with strong onshore winds. The swell picks up Sunday afternoon to 8ft, but the wind is onshore and the period is short at 8 seconds. It’s messy, lumpy, and not worth paddling out for.

Now, Monday, July 27th is a total beast mode day. We’re looking at 15ft to 16ft of south swell, but the wind is screaming cross-onshore at 18 to 16 mph. The combined energy is massive (5,164 to 8,295), but it’s a grinding, choppy, blown-out mess. Only the top-tier chargers on big-wave guns might get a look, and even then, it’s ugly.

The real standout comes on Tuesday, July 28th. The morning session is where it’s at. The swell drops to 8ft from the southeast, with a long 14-second groundswell period. The wind is light from the WNW, which is a clean cross-offshore. The combined energy is still very strong (4,904), and the wave comment says excellent conditions for experienced surfers. That’s the pick of the first week. This is a serious, powerful reef wave, and with that long period, it’ll be walling up nicely. Only for those who know what they’re doing – 8ft is too big for beginners.

The rest of the week after that is a write-off. Strong winds, big chop, and messy conditions. We get a few scraps on Saturday, August 1st and Sunday, August 2nd with clean 3ft to 5ft south-east swells, but it’s inconsistent.

The real gold is on the horizon. Tuesday, August 4th and Wednesday, August 5th. This is the big one. Tuesday morning we’ve got a massive 15ft swell from the south, with a 13-second period, and the wind is offshore from the NW at 3 mph. The combined energy is enormous (7,090), and the wave comment says it’s exceptional conditions for expert surfers. That’s the absolute best on offer. The afternoon holds 16ft, still clean, but even more intense. Wednesday also holds 15ft with clean cross-offshore winds. This is a pumping, groundswell-heavy system that will be barreling at Rolling Stones. This is not a beginner or intermediate wave. It’s a true expert-only, lifetime session if you’re in the right spot.

So, to sum it up: the best windows are Wednesday morning, July 22nd for a smaller, clean session, but the absolute standouts are Tuesday, August 4th and Wednesday, August 5th. That’s when the big, clean, powerful groundswell hits. Mark it in your calendar.

Rusty.

Read more