Watermans Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's cookin' at Watermans.

First thing you gotta know, the water’s runnin' a bit colder than normal at 64°F, about 3°F cooler than average for this time of year. So maybe grab that extra rubber if you're headin' out.

Alright, the surf kicks off on Monday, July 13th, but it's nothing to write home about. We've got a 7ft SSW groundswell rollin' in with a very long 16-second period. The wave energy is pumpin', but the wind is a light cross-shore from the SSW. It's clean-ish, but the call is marginal – tide or conditions just aren't lining up. Not the one to get excited about.

Tuesday, July 14th, things start to shape up. The morning session sees a 7ft WSW groundswell with a 15-second period, and a moderate breeze from the ENE is actually blowin' cross-offshore. That's clean. Then Tuesday afternoon gets even better – the wind swings to a gentle offshore from the ENE, same 7ft swell. Now we're talkin'. This is clean, well-shaped wave energy. It's a good call for experienced surfers. This is one of the standout windows.

Wednesday, July 15th, drops off a bit. The swell drops to 5ft and the wind gets messy. Not recommended.

Thursday, July 16th, is a write-off. Onshore winds and rain make a mess of the 6ft to 8ft swell. Don't bother.

Friday, July 17th, is also poor with a storm risk and onshore winds.

Saturday, July 18th, brings a big bump in size, hittin' 12ft in the morning and 13ft in the afternoon! That's a lot of energy. But the wind is onshore, and conditions are described as poor to marginal. This is only for experienced, strong paddlers. With that much power and a 16-second period, it'll be heavy – better suited for reefs or points than a typical beach break. The afternoon might have some huge, unruly waves, but it's not for the faint of heart.

We then hit a bit of a flat, messy patch from Sunday the 19th through Monday the 20th. Some wind and rain.

Now here’s your second true standout: Tuesday, July 21st. The morning session has a 8ft WSW swell with an 11-second period, and a light cross-offshore breeze from the SE. Clean, powerful, and has great shape. But the afternoon is the gem – Tuesday afternoon is glassy. Zero wind, 8ft swell. That is a rare treat at Watermans. It’s goin' to be clean, smooth, and has excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers. Mark that one in your diary.

After that, we have a few more decent windows. Wednesday, July 22nd morning is clean with a 6ft swell and a cross-offshore breeze. Then we get another glass-off on Thursday, July 23rd afternoon – 6ft WSW groundswell with a long 18-second period, and dead calm. That is a beautiful combo for a point break or reef setup. The long period will make for nice, lined-up sets.

Friday, July 24th, is also lookin' excellent. Both morning and afternoon sessions are clean with 7ft swells and light offshores. Consistent, well-shaped, good energy.

From Saturday, July 25th onward, the forecast gets a bit more rugged. Conditions turn onshore and messy, with strong winds and rain returnin' through the end of the month. Swell sizes drop and the quality tanks by the 28th.

So, if you're pickin' your sessions, Tuesday afternoon, July 21st, and Thursday afternoon, July 23rd are your absolute standouts. Glassy or clean offshores, solid swell, and good period. The water is a bit cold, but the waves will make up for it. The rest of the run has moments, but those two afternoons are the ones.

Rusty.

Read more