Turtles Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. This is Rusty, checking in on the only spot on the table: Turtles.

Right off the bat, it’s not looking great. Saturday morning the 5th kicks off with a solid 8ft SW swell, a 16-second period—proper groundswell energy—and a combined energy reading of 3178, which is strong. But that cross-onshore wind from the SW is making it messy. It stays lumpy all day and into Sunday, when the swell jumps to 12ft but the cross-shore wind cranks up to 28 mph on Sunday morning. That’s just ugly, and on a reef—if you’re an expert and you can handle the hack, maybe, but for most of us it’s a write-off.

The first real glimpse of something decent comes on Monday morning the 7th. The swell drops back to 8ft from the SW, still a 17-second period, and the wind swings SE—clean, cross-offshore. The combined energy is through the roof at 4393, so there’s plenty of push. That morning slot looks like the best of the early week, but it’s still marginal due to tide issues, and the crowds at Turtles can be a problem—this spot is often busy, and you’ll have company.

We have to wait until Wednesday the 9th afternoon for the first real standout. By then the swell has shifted to 7ft from the WSW, still a long 16-second period, but the wind goes offshore from the ESE at 12 mph. That’s clean, lined-up, and with 1904 combined energy, it’s moderate but well-angled. The condition is described as excellent for experienced surfers. Thursday morning the 10th is similar—6ft WSW, 15-second swell, offshore E wind at 12 mph, 1357 energy. That’s a nice, clean window for the advanced crew.

After that, the week goes flat and ragged. The following Saturday the 12th has a 6ft WSW groundswell at 18 seconds—very long period—and light cross-on wind, but that’s a beach reef setup and the wind is onshore, so it won’t hold shape well. Sunday the 13th through to the 18th is mostly messy, with lumpy wind or poor conditions. There’s a gap of several days with nothing worth paddling out for.

But then, hold on—Saturday the 19th brings a big pulse. The swell jumps to 10ft on the morning, 19-second period, from the WSW, and 7239 combined energy—that’s very strong. The wind is cross-shore from the S at 12 mph, so there’s some chop. It’s only for experts at that size, and it’s marginal due to tide, but that’s a lot of water moving. Sunday the 20th settles a bit to 8ft WSW, still strong at 3659 energy, with cleaner cross-offshore wind from the SE—that morning is your other standout for the second week.

Water temp? It’s about average for this time of year, nothing unusual. Turtles is a reef slab, so it handles the long-period groundswell well, but those big sets will be very noticeable. Expect wide lulls between the monster sets on the 19th.

Bottom line: if you’re an expert, the mornings of Wednesday the 9th through Thursday the 10th are the pick for clean, solid waves. The weekend of the 19th–20th is promising but less certain this far out. For everyone else, the first week is mostly a wipeout.

- Rusty

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