Fence (Port Elizabeth) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, letting you know what's on the cards for the next couple of weeks. We’ve got a bit of a mixed bag, but there are some windows if you’re patient.

The immediate outlook is a bit grim. We’re coming off a period of strong, onshore winds that have churned things up, and the first real surfable day isn't until Saturday the 15th. It’s a long wait, but it’s not all bad news.

Saturday morning the 15th is your first real chance. Fence (Port Elizabeth) will see a clean, 2.3ft SSW swell with a nice 14-second period pushing through. The wind is light offshore from the WSW, so it’ll be glassy. The wave energy is weak (335), but it’s a start. The water is sitting at 60.1°, which is *much* colder than usual for this time of year, so don’t forget the neoprene.

Sunday the 16th and Monday the 17th offer more small, clean waves in the mornings, around 2.0ft to 2.3ft, with similar light offshore winds. It’s not going to get your heart pounding, but it’s a paddle.

Then we get a bit of a lull before the main event. The real standout is shaping up for Wednesday afternoon, the 19th of August. The swell bumps up to 7.9ft from the SW with a 10-second period, and the wind is offshore. This is a hefty amount of wave energy (1303) and it’s going to be clean. This is the one to circle on the calendar. That’s a bit big for the beginners, but for the advanced crew, that’s the call.

Following that, Friday the 21st afternoon looks excellent again with a clean 3.9ft SSW swell and a solid 13-second period, with a moderate offshore wind (795 energy). That’s a great combo.

Looking further out, the end of the month is promising but a bit of a gamble. Wednesday the 26th afternoon has a clean 4.6ft SSW swell with a long 15-second period and a gentle offshore breeze (1093 energy). And then Thursday the 27th morning is looking like a real gem: a glassy 3.0ft SSW swell from the south, with absolutely no wind. The period is 14 seconds, so the wave shape should be good, but at a beach break that long period might make things a bit straight. Still, with glassy conditions, it’s worth a look.

The big swell on the 23rd and 24th is for experts only, with 9.8ft and 7.9ft swells, but the onshore winds ruin it. That’s a kite-surfing setup, not a paddle one.

So, to wrap it up: the best bet is Wednesday afternoon the 19th and Friday afternoon the 21st. The 26th and 27th are promising but less certain. Hang in there, the waves are coming.

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