Fence (Port Elizabeth) Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.96° S 25.65° E

Fence (Port Elizabeth) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 7 am 15 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Fence (Port Elizabeth) sea temperature is
14.5° C
4.7° 

Fence (Port Elizabeth) surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Fence (Port Elizabeth) surf forecast from 15 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 20 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 14s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 21 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 14s period, SSW swell with 1,910 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 16 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 13s period with SW swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Fence (Port Elizabeth) this week:

The surf forecast for Fence (Port Elizabeth) over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 16) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Fence (Port Elizabeth) in the next 16 days are 2.2m 14s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 21) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.0m 6s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 22) at 5AM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11AM (Sun 16th Aug)2.5ft (0.7m) 13s
Best Surf11PM (Thu 20th Aug)7ft (2.1m) 14s
Most Powerful 2AM (Fri 21st Aug)7ft (2.2m) 14s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Fence (Port Elizabeth) over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, this is Rusty. Let’s get into it.

We’ve only got one spot on the radar for this 16-day run: The Fence (Port Elizabeth). It’s an advanced, very consistent setup, so this is no learner’s wave. The water temperature is sitting at 59°, which is a massive 8° colder than normal for this time of year – that’s seriously unusual, so you’re going to need a thick suit and booties, no question.

The period kicks off with almost nothing. Saturday the 15th has a weak 3ft E swell with a short, scrappy 8-second period and weak energy (267), but the morning is glassy and clean. It’s surfable but tiny. By afternoon, it drops off into poor conditions with a 2ft SSW swell – not worth changing plans for.

Sunday the 16th stays small. A 2ft SW swell crosses off under NNW winds, but the combined energy is still weak (305). It’s clean but gutless. Monday the 17th sees a solid jump: 4ft SSW swell with a 14-second period, energy climbing into moderate territory (703), and clean cross-off wind. This is the first proper highlight – a long-period groundswell with decent shape and punch. Expect good, grunty rights and lefts.

Wednesday the 19th morning is the real standout of the first week. Glassy conditions, 6ft SSW swell at 13 seconds, and energy cranking up to 949 (moderate). This will be deep, clean, and powerful for the Fence. The wave comment says very good, and I trust that. Thursday the 20th continues the run with a 5ft SSW swell in the morning, still clean, energy at 838. Solid.

Then we hit a lull. Friday the 21st fades to 4ft with onshore cross-winds and marginal conditions. Saturday the 22nd brings a big shift – 10ft SW swell, energy surging to 2709 (strong). This is expert-only territory. It’s clean in the morning, but that size at the Fence will be wild. Good for the brave. By Sunday the 23rd, it goes too big: 18ft SW swell at 15 seconds, energy at 23336 (extremely strong) – the profile says it’s predicted to be too big for this break. A true washout, even for experts.

Monday the 24th still has 10ft of S swell but with onshore winds pushing it rough. The second week tails off into a mix of marginal and poor conditions until the very end. There’s a glimmer on Saturday the 29th morning: 8ft SSE swell, glassy, energy strong (1168). That’s a final shout for the big-wave crew. After that, the last two days drop to tiny and windy.

Overall, the standouts are the mornings of Wednesday the 19th and Thursday the 20th for the best balance of size, period, and glassy conditions. The Fence will be working, but get on it early before the wind shifts. Don't sleep on Monday the 17th either – that 14-second groundswell will reel in nicely. Everything after the 23rd is either colossal or cruddy.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Sun morning, min 15°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Wed afternoon, min 13°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light.

Saturday
15
Sunday
16
Monday
17
Tuesday
18
Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
Friday
21
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
0
0
2
2
2
3
2
2
1
3
1
1
2
3
2
2
4
0
0
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
SSW
14
0.6
SSW
14
0.6
SSW
13
0.7
SW
13
0.8
SW
12
1.1
E
8
1.2
SSW
14
1.2
SW
13
1.1
SW
13
1.2
SSW
14
1.5
SSW
13
1.8
SSW
13
1.7
SSW
13
1.7
SSW
13
1.5
SSW
12
1.6
SSW
13
1.7
SSW
13
2.2
SSW
14
2
SSW
13
1.7
SSW
13
1.4
SSW
15
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
132
123
120
172
184
156
545
509
380
493
756
1093
922
867
688
787
949
1910
1316
923
857
Wind (km/h)
0
SSW
15
ESE
15
NNE
10
NNW
15
SW
15
WSW
10
WSW
20
SW
20
W
20
WSW
10
SSW
10
NE
10
NE
10
ESE
20
WSW
20
WSW
15
SW
5
N
25
ENE
25
E
25
WSW
Wind State
glassy
on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
on
off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
on
on
off
High Tide
5:29PM1.95m
5:40AM1.77m
6:02PM1.87m
6:12AM1.67m
6:36PM1.75m
6:44AM1.55m
7:09PM1.62m
7:17AM1.41m
7:47PM1.47m
8:00AM1.28m
8:40PM1.33m
9:23AM1.17m
10:26PM1.24m
Low Tide
11:09AM0.18m
11:35PM0.29m
11:39AM0.25m
00:06AM0.38m
12:09PM0.35m
00:38AM0.49m
12:39PM0.47m
1:11AM0.62m
1:11PM0.61m
1:49AM0.75m
1:50PM0.76m
2:50AM0.87m
3:01PM0.91m
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:56
6:56
6:54
6:52
6:52
6:50
6:50
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:46
5:47
5:47
5:49
5:50
5:50
5:51
 mm
Temp °C
16
18
23
26
21
16
17
17
16
16
16
16
15
18
17
16
17
16
16
17
18
Feels °C
17
17
19
23
17
16
15
14
14
13
13
15
13
17
18
14
14
16
13
13
17
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder
How to use the Wavefinder 
submit an eyeball surf report

Quick surf report for Fence (Port Elizabeth):

join our community of surf reporters

FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website

The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Fence (Port Elizabeth) surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.


Information about the Fence (Port Elizabeth) Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Fence (Port Elizabeth) provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Fence (Port Elizabeth) can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Fence (Port Elizabeth) surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Fence (Port Elizabeth)) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).

Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Fence (Port Elizabeth) may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.

The Fence is 6 km (4 miles) from the city of Port Elizabeth. If you plan a holiday in Eastern Cape (South), look for hotels and other accommodation in Port Elizabeth. Port Elizabeth has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

Nearest locationNearest