Fence (Port Elizabeth) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. It’s Rusty here, and I’m looking at what we’ve got on the cards for Fence (Port Elizabeth). It’s a bit of a mixed bag, so let’s break it down.

The main event here is going to be Friday the 24th of July. That’s the standout. We’ve got a solid 10ft S groundswell coming in with a very long period of 16 seconds. That’s proper energy, and with a light offshore W wind at only 6 mph, it’s going to be clean and lined up. The combined swell energy is pumping at 4688, which is seriously strong. This is advanced territory at that size, so only the experienced crew should be out there. Keep in mind, with that long period, it might wall up a bit on a beach, but Fence can handle it.

Before that, Thursday the 23rd is a write-off. We’ve got a near-gale offshore wind at 31 mph and a messy 8ft SW swell. The combined energy is 1515, but the conditions are just too rough. Leave it.

Saturday the 25th morning is a nice little window. The swell drops to 5ft from the SSW with a 14-second period, and it’s glassy with a slight WNW breeze at 3 mph. The energy is 1185, so it’s clean but not a heavyweight. Good for a fun session, but the Friday morning is where the real juice is.

Sunday the 26th through to the end of the first week is average at best. The winds go cross-onshore, the swell drops, and it gets lumpy. The 27th Monday has some cleaner windows with offshore wind, but the swell is small at 4ft, so not much to write home about.

Now, we hit a bit of a lull. From the 28th July right through to the 4th of August, it’s a long run of poor conditions. Winds are onshore or cross-onshore, mostly fresh breezes, and the waves are messy or chopped up. The swell sticks around but the quality is just not there for a wave. Combined energy values drop to around 700-1200, but it’s all blown out.

Things perk up again on Wednesday the 5th of August. We get a clean SW groundswell of 6ft with a 13-second period and a cross-offshore breeze. The energy is 1882, so there’s some push. It’s not the absolute top shelf, but a solid session for the more dedicated surfer.

Then we’ve got a real interesting one on Thursday the 6th of August morning. The swell is 8ft from the east-southeast, but with a short 8-second period. That’s a windswell. What makes it special is the glassy conditions – no wind at all. The combined energy is 1300, and for a morning, that could be surprisingly fun and clean if you’re looking for something different. It’s a bit big for beginners though.

After that, the 7th of August offers decent 7ft to 8ft E swell with light cross-shore winds. The periods are short (9 seconds), so it’s more of a windswell, but it’ll be rideable and clean enough. Not the best of the whole forecast, but a solid option to close out the run.

Overall, the absolute standout is Friday the 24th of July morning. That’s the one to circle on the calendar. Big, clean, powerful. Thursday the 6th of August morning is a quirky bonus for anyone who likes a glassy windswell.

Stay stoked, but don’t bother paddling out in that gale on the 23rd.

- Rusty

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