Fence (Port Elizabeth) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s look at what’s on the cards for Fence (Port Elizabeth). It’s a pretty patchy run ahead, with a lot of junk to sit through before we get anything worth paddling out for. First recommended surf isn’t until Thursday the 8th of September, so there’s a long dry spell from now until then. The water temp is sitting at 65°, which is about 1° cooler than average for this time of year – pretty normal, nothing to grab a thick wetsuit over.

Thursday 3rd to Monday 7th September – Forget it. Fresh cross-onshore wind, lumpy chop, and poor surf conditions dominate. Swell sizes range from 4 ft up to 10 ft, but with short-period, messy windswell and onshore wind, it’s a write-off. Even Saturday the 6th throws up a serious 7 ft groundswell with a 22-second period, but combined energy is pumping at 1484, and the onshore wind is 35 km/h – raw power but blown to bits. Too big and ugly for paddling, honestly looks more interesting for kite surfing.

The Pick – Tuesday 8th September – Finally a window. Early morning brings glassy conditions (wind SE, 0 km/h) with a clean 4 ft southerly swell, 13-second period, combined energy of 845. This is a proper little groundswell with clean conditions. Expect very good surf. The swell direction (S) isn’t the absolute optimum (SE) but close enough. This is the standout of the whole period – short-lived, so grab it early.

Wednesday 9th September – Still clean, but smaller. Morning has 3 ft easterly swell, cross-offshore wind from the SW at 25 km/h, combined energy 322. Afternoon drops to 2 ft but with a 14-second period. It’s marginal but clean. A quiet option for a longboard.

Thursday 10th to Saturday 12th September – Back to mediocrity. Onshore or cross-onshore wind, weak swell under 4 ft, combined energy between 165 and 667. Poor surf conditions. Not worth the walk.

Sunday 13th September – Morning pushes 8 ft SSW swell at 10 seconds, combined energy 1386, but ESE onshore wind at 20 km/h. Marginal and lumpy. Afternoon jumps to 10 ft S swell, 13 seconds, energy 2840 – too big for most with onshore wind, only for experts if you’re desperate.

Monday 14th September – 12 ft S swell at 15 seconds, combined energy 4946, but ENE wind at 40 km/h and gusting. That’s a washing machine. Kite surfers might love it.

Tuesday 15th September – Morning shows promise. WSW offshore wind at 30 km/h, clean, with 4 ft SSE groundswell at 16 seconds, combined energy 2023. Fresh offshore and clean – a solid runner-up. The period is very long, so expect better shape at this reefy point, but long gaps between sets.

Wednesday 16th September – Clean again with cross-offshore SW wind, 4 ft to 6 ft S swell, 11-12 second period, energy 966 to 1479. Marginal but clean – a mellow option.

Thursday 17th and Friday 18th September – Wind goes cross and onshore again. Swell around 6 ft to 8 ft with poor conditions, though Friday has a long 15-second period SSW groundswell. The energy is strong (1480 to 3208), but the wind and chop wreck it.

Bottom line: Tuesday 8th morning is the true gem – glassy, clean, and a solid little groundswell. Tuesday 15th morning offers the next best with offshore wind and a long-period groundswell. The rest is mostly a battle with wind.

Rusty.

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