Venice Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into it. We’ve got a long stretch ahead, and I’ll be honest with you – it’s looking pretty flat for the most part. There’s a gap of about four days before we see anything worth paddling out for, starting from Monday afternoon, August 3rd, but that first session is a write-off. The water is sitting at 73°F, which is a solid 7°F warmer than usual for this time of year – that’s a very unusual anomaly, so you’ll be feeling that warm bath.

The first real glimmer of hope doesn’t come until Friday morning, August 7th. Venice Pier (sandbar) is our only option on the table. It’s a beginner-friendly spot, exposed to the southwest swell. That morning, we’ve got a small 1ft swell from the SSW, but the period stretches right out to a very long 19 seconds. That’s proper groundswell energy, with combined energy hitting 234 (moderate). The wind is light and cross-onshore, so it’s not glassy, but it’s manageable. The issue is the surf quality is still only marginal – tide or conditions are questionable. For a spot that’s exposed, a long-period SSW groundswell like this can wrap in nicely, but at a sandbar, it might break a bit too straight. Still, it’s the best we’ve got.

The weekend offers a slight bump. Saturday, August 8th, sees a 2ft swell from the SSW, with a period of 17 seconds. The energy is 210 (moderate) but again, it’s marginal. Light cross-onshore winds. Sunday, August 9th, drops to a 15-second period, energy at 146. Nothing to write home about. The following week is a sea of “poor surf conditions” until Friday, August 14th, when we get another marginal window. That morning shows a 1ft swell from the SSW with a very long 19-second period, and energy climbing to 252. Still, it’s marginal.

The standout for the entire 16 days? It’s got to be Friday, August 14th, morning. The swell direction is solidly SSW, which matches the optimum direction for Venice Pier, and the period is seriously long at 19 seconds, giving it proper punch. The combined energy reads 252 (moderate). The wind is light and onshore, so it’s not clean, but for a flat stretch, it’s the best offer. The afternoon of the 15th has a bigger 3ft swell with energy at 351 (still moderate), but the wind is a moderate 9 mph onshore, and the surf quality is still poor. So, the 14th morning is the one to pencil in.

Overall, it’s a tough outlook. The swell is small, the wind is never truly offshore, and the surf quality is consistently poor. If you’re a beginner, the tiny waves might be manageable, but don’t expect any barrels. This is a period where the forecast looks bleak, but it tends not to stay this poor for long, so keep an eye on changes.

Rusty.

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