South Del Mar Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s going on at South Del Mar.

Alright mate, it’s a bit of a slow burner down this end. We’ve got a bit of a wait on our hands before anything really worth paddling out for shows up. For the first couple of days, it’s pretty average – small and chopped up by the wind. The real action starts to bubble up from Saturday the 5th onward, with the best window shaping up to be Sunday the 6th into Monday the 7th.

Thursday the 3rd is a washout. Only 2ft of weak swell coming from the SW with a cross-onshore breeze, and the energy is just not there (427). The water’s about average for this time of year, nothing wild, but you won’t care because it’s poor out there. Friday the 4th is a little better with a touch more size, around 3ft from the SSW, but it’s still onshore and messy. The energy picks up a notch (700), but it’s still barely marginal.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Saturday morning, September 5th, we see the swell start building. It’s still small and onshore in the morning at 3ft (917), but by the afternoon the combined energy jumps to 1185 – that’s moderate, solid juice for this spot. The swell hits 4ft from the SSW, but the wind is onshore from the WSW. It’s a little better, but not clean.

Sunday, September 6th, is the standout. Morning sees the swell jump to 6ft from the south, with a period of 14 seconds, giving it some real push. The energy is strong, clocking in at 1430. The wind? It goes cross-shore from the SSW early, and by the afternoon it flips to a light onshore from the WSW. It’s still a bit lumpy, but this is the best size we’re going to get. Monday the 7th holds similar energy – 6ft to 7ft from the SSW with 14-second periods – but the onshore wind keeps it from being glassy. That said, with that much south swell, South Del Mar’s reef setup will have some proper lines pushing through. It’s a fairly consistent spot and exposed to the swell, but keep in mind it’s a beginner-friendly break – at 6ft, it’s pushing the limits for a learner. Also, it gets crowded often here, so expect some company.

After that peak, the energy drops away fast. Tuesday the 8th is down to 6ft, energy at 1102, and by Wednesday the 9th we’re back to 4ft. From Thursday the 10th through to the end of the forecast, it’s pretty flat and sad. Swell barely scrapes 3ft most days, with energy dipping into the 200 to 400 range. Winds stay onshore or cross-onshore, so there’s not a single clean day in the second week. Saturday the 12th and Sunday the 13th are particularly grim – tiny and weak.

So, to sum it up: if you’re keen, make the most of Sunday the 6th and Monday the 7th. That’s your window. After that, it’s a long dry spell right through to the 18th with nothing worth chasing. The blank run is real this time, but with it being fairly consistent here, it won’t stay poor forever – forecasts can always shift.

Stay salty, Rusty.

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