Tajiguas Ranch Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s cooking for Tajiguas Ranch. I gotta be honest, the next sixteen days are a bit of a slow burn, so you’ll need to pick your moments. The water is sitting at 67° which is much warmer than usual for this time of year, so you’ll be comfy in a spring suit, maybe even just boardshorts.

We’re starting off with a real flat spell. The first few days, from Friday the 21st through Monday the 24th, are a total washout. We’re talking tiny 1ft to 3ft swell with a cross-onshore or cross breeze, and the wave comment is “poor surf conditions.” The combined swell energy is weak to moderate (134 to 251), but honestly, it’s not worth getting wet for. You’d be better off waxing your board for later.

Things start to show a little pulse from Tuesday the 25th. The morning is still marginal with 2ft of SW swell (16 second period, a long period groundswell), but the energy is building (294). The real glimmer is Tuesday afternoon: a 2ft S swell with a 17 second period, and the wind goes cross-offshore from the NW at 12 mph. The combined energy jumps to 503, which is moderate to strong, and the wave comment says “clean.” That’s the first day it actually looks like a surfable wave, even if it’s small. It’s an exposed reef, so a long period S swell like that could line up nicely, but it’s still only marginal.

Wednesday the 26th is much the same story – better in the afternoon with a 3ft S swell (13 seconds) and that clean cross-offshore NW wind. Energy is high at 585, but the swell height is still small. This pattern of small, clean afternoon waves with moderate energy (400-500 range) repeats through the end of August and into the first days of September. The mornings are often blown out by a light onshore or cross-onshore breeze, but the afternoons, especially with that NW wind, clean up nicely.

The standout for the whole period, if you can call it that, is likely the afternoon of Saturday the 29th of August. We’ve got a 2ft SSW swell, with a 16 second period, and a clean cross-offshore NW wind at 12 mph. The combined energy is a solid 478. It’s not big, but it’s clean and consistent for a reef break. For a spot that’s only “fairly consistent,” this is a window to grab a few fun ones. Just keep in mind that crowds are sometimes an issue here.

Later in the first week of September, the swell tries to push a bit higher. Monday the 31st of August morning shows 5ft of short-period WNW windswell (8 seconds) with a clean cross-offshore wind, but the energy is dropping (431). By the afternoon, it’s 6ft, but the period is a weak 6 seconds and the wave comment is “poor surf conditions.” That’s a messy, short-period bump that won’t hold a shape – more of a wrestling match than a surf. For a reef break, it’s not ideal.

The rest of the first week of September sees a return to the small, clean afternoon pattern, with swells from the S and SSW in the 2ft to 3ft range, with moderate energy. The best of these is probably the afternoon of Thursday the 4th of September, where we get a 2ft SW swell, 16 second period, and a light cross-onshore wind, but the energy is strong at 524. It’s still marginal though.

So, to boil it down: the first four days are a total loss. The best waves are the small, clean afternoon windows from the 25th of August onwards, with the standout being the afternoon of the 29th. Don’t expect any barrels or big, powerful walls. It’s small, clean lines for a longboard or a fish. The high energy numbers (over 400) are promising for a reef break with a long period groundswell, but the small size keeps it from being a proper session. Patience is the name of the game here.

Rusty.

Read more