Trestles (Lowers) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, grab a coffee and listen up. I’m Rusty, and I’ve just been staring at the charts for Trestles (Lowers). It’s a classic beach and reef set-up, exposed to the south-west swell, and it loves a good, long-period pulse. The water is currently 75° and sitting a massive 7° warmer than it should be for this time of year, so you definitely won’t be needing a steamer.

Alright, the honest truth for the next week or so is a bit of a grind. We’ve got a persistent run of messy, cross-onshore winds that are just going to chop things up. From Saturday the 29th right through most of the first week of September, it’s looking marginal at best. We’re talking knee to waist-high swell (around 3 to 4 ft) from the SSW, but that consistent wind from the W or WSW is going to keep the surface bumpy. The combined energy is moderate, sitting around that 500 to 700 mark, but it just won’t be clean. Sunday the 30th and Monday the 31st are particularly flat and messy—a real beach day, not a surf day. You’re better off checking the tides and waiting.

Now, hold on, because the second week starts to show some real promise. Monday the 7th of September we see a pickup, with the swell jumping to 5 ft from the S and period hitting a nice 14 seconds. The energy jumps up (878) but it’s still got that cross-on wind. That’s the warm-up.

The real standout—and I mean the one day you need to circle in your calendar—is Tuesday the 8th of September. We get a proper pulse of groundswell. The morning sees solid 8 ft from the SSW, jumping to a pumping 12 ft in the afternoon. The period is a quality 12 to 13 seconds, and the combined energy is strong, registering 1930 in the morning and a massive 3123 in the afternoon. Now, this is expert territory only; it’s too big for beginners. The catch is that the wind is still a cross-on from the W. It’ll be a bit bumpy, but the sheer power and size of that SSW swell on a super consistent break like Trestles will produce some serious, dredging barrels on the right banks. It’s going to be a zoo crowds-wise, that’s inevitable, but for the experienced surfer, that is the session of the forecast.

After that surge, it fades quickly. Wednesday the 9th drops back to 6 ft from the SSW, but the period crashes to a short 8 seconds, which is pretty junky. Then from the 10th through the 12th, it’s a return to the small stuff, with waist-high leftovers and poor, cross-onshore conditions. Not worth the hassle.

Then, just when you’re about to give up, look at Sunday the 13th of September. The morning offers a small, clean window. The swell is a modest 3 ft from the SSW (period around 12 seconds) but the wind goes glassy with a light N breeze. It’s a rare moment of pure, clean conditions. It’s not big, but for a longboard or a fish in the early morning light, with almost no wind, it’ll be a beautiful little session. The rain showers might put some people off, leaving it quieter.

So, the call: Tuesday the 8th of September is the big, powerful, expert-only day with a massive 12 ft SSW groundswell. For the everyday surfer wanting clean lines, the best bet is the glassy morning of Sunday the 13th of September. Everything else is a bit of a write-off.

Rusty.

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