Laguna Beach - South Crescent Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a good look at what’s on the cards for South-Crescent Bay (Laguna Beach). I won’t sugarcoat it—this stretch is staring down a long, quiet spell, so don’t be in a rush.

We’re kicking off with very little to work with. From Tuesday the 4th of August right through until the morning of Saturday the 8th, we’re looking at poor surf conditions with tiny swell—1 ft to 2 ft from the SSW, mostly cross-on breezes and weak energy readings (131 down to 88). It’s not just small; the combined energy is barely registering, and the waves are weak and messy. You’d be fighting for a bump.

There’s a slight shift on Saturday morning August 8th, where the morning ticks up to “marginal” with the swell lifting to 2 ft from the SSW, period at 17 seconds. The energy climbs to 303 (moderate). But that cross-on wind from the SSW is still there, light but not helping clean things up. Still, a long period like that is a groundswell sign—better shaped waves but longer waits between sets. That bigger gap can make paddling out a little easier, but the beach-and-reef setup here won’t hold that long-period juice as well as a point or reef would. That makes this a maybe, not a go.

The pattern drags on. Sunday the 9th through to Wednesday the 12th sees the swell bounce between 2 ft and 3 ft from the SSW, mostly with cross-on breezes, and the best you’ll get is a “marginal” tag. The energy numbers are solid enough—256 to 276—but the winds aren’t giving us that clean, glassy surface we all want. On Wednesday the 12th afternoon, the wind turns onshore from the WSW, and that’s a write-off.

Then we hit a little pocket later on. Thursday the 14th of August afternoon shows a jump in swell height to 2 ft from the SSW, period at 18 seconds, and the energy kicks up to 535 (strong). That’s the best-looking wave energy of the whole run. The wind is light and onshore from the WSW though. That onshore breeze is a killer for texture, but if it backs off or turns offshore, this could actually be the standout. Friday the 15th morning through to Saturday the 16th also holds 3 ft swell from the SSW with moderate to strong energy (462–524), but again, cross-on or onshore winds. Still, this long-period groundswell is your best bet—if you’re an experienced local, you might find a few decent runners if the wind lays down.

After that, it fades again. From the 17th onwards, we drop back into poor conditions with 1 ft to 2 ft, period dropping, and breezes getting more chop in the water.

One note on conditions: the water temperature anomaly is about average for this time of year, so it'll feel normal for a summer wetsuit or just a spring suit, depending on your tolerance.

The one true standout in this 16-day window? I’d put my money on the morning of Saturday the 16th of August. Swell is 3 ft from the SSW, period 16 seconds, combined energy at 328, and the wind is light and onshore—but that light breeze can lay down to glass just before it turns. The potential for clean lines is there, and it’s the biggest, most consistent bump on the horizon. But don't expect miracles—this is a “check it before you paddle” kind of day, not a dawn-patrol lock-in.

Honestly, the whole run is thin. The energy is moderate to strong at times, but the winds and swell direction never line up perfectly (optimum for the break would be SSW, which we get, but the onshore wind messes it up). It’s not terrible for kite surfing on the breezier afternoons, though. For paddle surfing, you’re hunting scraps.

Keep your eyes open, but don’t hold your breath. The forecasts can always change, and it’ll come good eventually.

Rusty.

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