Fence (Port Elizabeth) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's talk about what's cooking for the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, we've got a bit of a slow start, but don't let that fool you. The first session worth paddling out for is a quick window on Tuesday afternoon. The water at Fence (Port Elizabeth) is sitting at 63°, which is a whopping 4° colder than what we'd normally expect for this time of year. That's proper winter water, so make sure you've got the thick rubber if you're heading out.

Tuesday afternoon is looking like a sneaky little winner. The wind goes completely glassy, and we've got a clean 4ft swell from the ESE with a 10-second period. The combined energy is moderate at 407, but with zero wind, that's going to be silky smooth. It's not going to be huge, but for a quick after-work dip, that's a treat. Just remember, Fence can have a crowd sometimes, so you might have to jostle for a few.

Now, let's talk about the real standout. You want to circle Saturday, August 8th, on the morning session. This is where it gets good. The swell bumps up to 6ft from the SSW with a 14-second period. That's a proper groundswell, and with a combined energy of 1363, there's some decent grunt in the water. The wind is light and cross-offshore, keeping the face clean and lined up. This is a classic Fence session for experienced surfers that know the place.

We do get a bit of a rough patch after that. Sunday gets blown out by strong winds, and then Monday the 10th blows up huge with an 18ft SSE swell (7022 energy), but it's a complete mess with strong cross-shore winds. That's not for paddle surfing; if you're on a kite, you might have a field day, but for us, it's a no-go.

The following week is a mixed bag of onshore winds and big, unruly swell around the 15ft mark. It's not user-friendly. However, keep an eye on Saturday, August 15th. Another glassy morning rolls in with a clean 6ft E swell. The energy is moderate at 857, but with zero wind, it'll be a beautiful paddle out. It's a bit further out, so less certain, but it could be a late-summer gem.

For the last few days, we see a shift in direction to the SW, with some moderate swell around 8ft. The Monday afternoon (17th) looks like the pick here with a clean 5ft from the SW and a light offshore wind. Not a barnstormer, but a solid end to the outlook.

So, to keep it simple: your best bets are Tuesday afternoon (Aug 4) for a glassy, mellow session and Saturday morning (Aug 8) for the best quality swell of the run.

Rusty.

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