Stockton Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what Stockton has in store over the next couple of weeks. Straight up – it’s a pretty grim stretch. For a break that’s usually consistent and exposed, we’re staring at a long run of tiny, weak, and often messy conditions. The water is running a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, about 76° on Sunday morning, but that’s about the only highlight.

Right now, Sunday July 19, it’s barely a ripple – 2 ft of short-period S swell, period only 7 seconds, with a cross-off breeze that’s keeping it clean but there’s almost no energy (37). That’s a no-go. Monday and Tuesday are even worse, with swell dropping to 1.0 ft and then a bit of bump from a storm risk, but the wind is onshore and gusty. Wednesday the 22nd sees a slight bump in energy to 130 (moderate) with 3 ft SSE swell and 8–9 seconds, but the wind is cross-shore or cross-off – still not surfable in any meaningful way. Thursday through the following weekend (July 23–26) are all under 2 ft, weak energy, and mostly just clean or choppy but no wave to speak of. There’s a long gap of nothing worth paddling out for.

Finally, we get a tiny window on Friday July 31 morning. The swell picks up to 5 ft from the ENE, period 8 seconds, and the combined energy climbs to 221 (moderate). It’s a cross-on wind though, light, so it’ll be a bit lumpy. The forecast calls it “marginal” – really only worth a look if you’re desperate. That afternoon the wind swings onshore and it’s back to poor. Then another dry spell until Sunday August 2 afternoon. That’s the other flicker: 4 ft from the S, period only 5 seconds, energy a weak 86, but the wind goes light and cross-off, so the surface is clean. The wave comment says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions” – short period slop, but if you’re jonesing, you might score a few weak ones.

The best of a bad bunch is probably that Friday July 31 morning, but even then it’s a cross-on wind and the swell direction (ENE) is not the optimum SE for Stockton, so the waves won’t be well shaped. The August 2 afternoon is cleaner, but the swell is tiny and short-period. For a beginner-friendly beach/jetty like Stockton, this whole 16-day window is a write-off. If you’re a kite surfer, that Tuesday July 21 with 25 mph onshore winds and 4 ft slop might be more interesting. Otherwise, save your energy.

Rusty

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