Stela Maris Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you: the next couple of weeks are looking pretty grim for a proper surf around here. We’ve got a run of small, junky, wind-affected waves that’ll have you wondering why you even brought your board. But hang on, there’s a tiny window of hope late in the game, so let’s break it down day by day.

The first real chance of anything decent doesn’t show up until Saturday the 15th. That’s a full week of waiting through onshore slop and weak, short-period wind swell. From the 8th through the 14th, we’re looking at mostly poor surf conditions. The swell stays small – mostly under 4ft – with periods of 7 to 8 seconds, which is just short-period chop. The winds are mostly cross-onshore or onshore, keeping things messy. The combined energy during this stretch is weak to moderate, hitting values like 166, 183, 202, and peaking at 442 on Thursday the 13th morning, but it’s all for nothing with the onshore flow. It’s going to be a frustrating week, no doubt.

Now, the standout, and really the only window worth getting excited about, is Saturday morning the 15th at Stela Maris (Gulf of Lion). This is the one to circle. The swell direction is from the south (S) with a solid 2ft face, but here’s the kicker – the period jumps to 14 seconds. That’s a proper groundswell, bringing real energy and shape. The combined energy reading is 348, which is moderate, but the quality is there. We’ve got a light NNE wind at 6 mph, which is cross-offshore, and the forecast says “clean.” The comment says “expect good surf conditions,” and I trust that. This is a long-period swell, so it’s best on reefs and points, but Stela Maris is exposed and should handle it. It’s only 2ft, so not big, but clean and lined up. That’s your best bet for a proper surf.

After that morning, the window slams shut. Saturday afternoon the wind swings onshore and bumps it up to 12 mph, and the period drops back into the weeds. From the 16th through the 23rd, it’s back to small, short-period, and mostly onshore junk. There’s a brief flicker on Wednesday the 19th morning with a 6ft S swell, period 10s, and a light NNE crosswind, making it just marginal – but the energy is strong at 549, so there’s some push, but the wind isn’t perfect. Still, that’s the second-best option, but it’s a far cry from the Saturday morning glass.

By Saturday the 22nd and Sunday the 23rd, the swell fades away entirely, with energy dropping to 241 and then 97, and the size falling below 2ft. It’s over.

So, here’s the bottom line: if you can only get out once in the next two weeks, make it Saturday morning the 15th. Clean, south groundswell, light offshore wind – that’s your window. The rest of the time, you’re better off doing something else. It’s a blank run, but that Saturday morning makes it all worth it.

Rusty, out.

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