Fence (Port Elizabeth) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, grab your wettie and listen up. It’s Rusty here with the full rundown for Fence (Port Elizabeth). This one’s a proper advanced wave, very consistent, and it’s got a fair bit of exposure to the SW. We're looking at a good window of opportunity, but we gotta pick our moments.

The water is a chilly 59° which is a solid 7° colder than normal for this time of year. That is not just a little fresh, that is a proper bite. You’ll want the thickest suit you’ve got and maybe a hood.

The first few days are all about grooming. The swell is in the 4ft to 5ft range with a solid 13-14 second period, and the energy is moderate (635). The 17th sees a clean, glassy morning with a slight SSW wind, and it’s a good warm-up. The 18th afternoon sees the swell build a touch to 5ft from the SSW with clean conditions, and the energy bumps up (836). It’s a decent start, but not the big show.

Now, Wednesday the 19th is where you want to be. We’ve got a clean 6ft of SSW groundswell, period pushing 13 seconds, and the morning is glassy with a slight NW wind. The energy is strong (963). This is some proper Fence wave. The afternoon, however, turns nasty with a 22 mph cross-off shore that will chop it all to bits.

Thursday the 20th is a different beast entirely. The swell jacks up to 10ft from the SSW with a solid 14-second period. The energy is absolutely cranking at (2953). This is for experts only – way too big for anyone still learning. Morning looks clean with a light WSW wind, but even then this is a serious, serious ledge. The afternoon backs off a touch in size but gets a bit of onshore cross-grain.

The following days, from the 21st to the 24th, we see that swell settle back into that clean, fun zone. Waves are in the 5ft to 6ft range, with that long 12-14 second period. Mornings with light offshore or glassy winds are your friend here, especially the 21st and 24th mornings that look prime. Crowds are possible at Fence, and on days like this with quality waves on offer, you can bet it’ll be busy.

The energy drops off a bit for the 25th and the 26th gets blown out by a strong ENE onshore. The 27th is small and weak, so maybe save your energy. Then, out of nowhere, Friday the 28th morning brings a left-field surprise. A solid 7ft SW swell arrives with not a breath of wind – dead glassy. The energy is strong (1650). That’s a magic hour if I’ve ever seen one, but it doesn’t stick around.

The first week of September is where the real power returns. The 31st of August brings a proper pulse: 10ft of S swell with a very long 15-second period. The energy readings are huge (4243 and 4467). It’s a big, raw ocean and definitely expert-only territory. The S direction is slightly off the optimum SW for Fence, which might make it a bit wonky, but the power is undeniable.

After that, the 1st of September gets messy with a strong onshore, so you can chalk that up as a washout.

So here’s the deal. Your standout windows are the morning of the 19th for a solid, clean 6ft day, and the morning of the 28th for that glassy 7ft surprise. The big swells at the end of the month are for the hardcore crew only. It’s not a perfect forecast, but there’s plenty to get excited about.

Rusty out.

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