Laguna Beach - South Crescent Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s cookin’ for Laguna Beach’s South Crescent Bay. We’ve got a 16-day window ahead, but honestly, it’s a bit of a slow burn. The first real surf worth paddling out for doesn’t kick in until around the 3rd of September, so the next few days are a bit of a write-off with small, weak waves and cross-onshore winds making things messy.

That first standout window arrives on Thursday the 3rd. The morning is looking like the best bet. We’ve got a solid 4ft SSW groundswell with a 14-second period pushing in, and the combined energy is chunky at 699 (moderate). The wind is a dream – light onshore from the SW at just 3 mph, so it’s gonna be glassy and clean. This is your moment. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so nothing crazy there. South Crescent Bay is a beach-and-reef setup and fairly exposed to that SSW direction, so it’ll handle the swell nicely. Keep in mind though, the waves are a bit on the bigger side for beginners at 4ft, and the crowds are often around, so get there early.

After that, things get choppy again. The wind swings west and picks up into the moderate breeze range, messing up the surface. The swell drops back to around 3ft for a few days, with long-period energy (15-17 seconds) but wonky winds. Not really worth the paddle.

Then we get a second interesting pulse around Tuesday the 8th and Wednesday the 9th. On the 8th, the afternoon shows a 5ft S swell but the period is only 13 seconds – still decent. The energy jumps to 987 (moderate to strong), but the wind is onshore and light, which is okay but not perfect. The morning of the 9th pushes that energy even higher to 1082 (strong) with 5ft waves and 12-second period. Again, light onshore wind. These waves are pushing into the 5ft to 6ft range, so it’s getting into expert territory. For a reef/point setup like this, that long-period energy can be a bit tricky – it might break a little too straight for the beach-break sections, but the reef should focus it up.

After the 9th, the swell fades pretty quickly. The 10th and 11th have some small, weak SW groundswell but the wind stays cross-onshore, offering only marginal surf. By the 12th, the wind screams from the SSE at 15 mph, making it a total chop-fest – that’s kite-surfing weather, not paddle surfing.

So, to wrap it up: Thursday the 3rd morning is the true standout – clean, glassy, decent size. Wednesday the 9th morning is the other one to circle, but it’s bigger and more for the experienced crew.

Stay wet,
Rusty

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