Predicting swell?

[City Dad]

What is a good way - if any - to get an idea as to what swells are going to be like a day or two ahead of time?

[ikeman]

Follow the link to http://www.surfline.com It is a paysite but is inexpensive @$65/yr. You can access the free forecast but it only goes out for 2 days, if you are a member it gives you the whole week. They also have tides, weather and cams on many So Cal beaches. Good info for a fisherman as well as a surfer. There are forecasting models that even take into consideration the swell shadowing (blockage of swell to areas of the coast) of our nearshore islands that have a direct impact of how big the waves will be on various beaches. Example: a NW swell may be showing 5' waves at Huntington cliffs and North to Bolsa, but only 2-3' South of HB pier to Newport. This is caused by the shadowing (blockage) of the swell from Channel islands and Catalina. The same in reverse on South swells. The South bay won't pick up South swells for the same reason. So even if it's too big to fish at your favorite beach, you will know where to fish where the waves won't be as much of a problem. You have to look around for whats free on the site but I think it will be helpful. hope this helps!
Jeff

[Brad100]

The below site is free with lots of info... good luck

http://www.wetsand.com/swellwatch/swell ... ?catid=295 (http://www.wetsand.com/swellwatch/swellwatch.asp?catid=295)

[Granny Fish]

The below site is free with lots of info... good luck

http://www.wetsand.com/swellwatch/swell ... ?catid=295 (http://www.wetsand.com/swellwatch/swellwatch.asp?catid=295)

That website only seems to show surf reports and not off shore swell/weather reports.

[Brad100]

Hey Grannyfish... I don't think that you looked hard enough. This site gives alot of info, including wind, bouy information, swell predictions including height & period. Give it another try. Here's the link again.

http://www.wetsand.com/swellwatch/swell ... ?catid=295 (http://www.wetsand.com/swellwatch/swellwatch.asp?catid=295)

[City Dad]

Thanks, everyone. I just picked up a new 7wt flyrod for the surf. I'm ready to break it in so I want to make sure conditions are as miserable as possible before I go! :lol:

One more question: I am assuming "NW" means a north-west facing beach and "SW" means south-west. Would Zuma area be considered south-west?

[ikeman]

Yeah, Zuma's a south facing beach and it will be small for the next few days. the South pacific stats to shut down now and through March you will be dealing with Nw- North and Norhtwest swells. All S-SW facing beaches will be smaller. A 7wt is gonna be fun. Try some streamer flys and experiment with stripping speed. I'm Not sure whats up your way, but near Disneyland is Bob Marriott's fly fishing Magnolia and the 5 area. They can set you up with flies. Google them.

I forgot about wetsand- good site and it's free! You just gotta dig...

"The master angler sets his sights on species of fish and methods of fishing that are so difficult that just pursuing them borders on madness" - someone else

[City Dad]

A 7wt is gonna be fun. Try some streamer flys and experiment with stripping speed.
I was using my 5wt which was fun - when I wasn't hooking myself in the back of the head!


I'm Not sure whats up your way, but near Disneyland is Bob Marriott's fly fishing Magnolia and the 5 area. They can set you up with flies. Google them.
I frequent The Fisherman's Spot on Burbank blvd. in Van Nuys. Great guys there. Work takes me by Bob Marriott's every once in a while and I always make sure to stop and spend too much money. I tie my own flies and their selection of materials, well, it's just not fair... :lol:


"The master angler sets his sights on species of fish and methods of fishing that are so difficult that just pursuing them borders on madness" - someone else
I'm still looking for my first corbina. However, I did manage to scare quite a few of them this summer! And a leopard shark, I gotta hook one of those on a fly rod.

[ikeman]

Kinda late in the year now but try tying a sand crab http://www.spfadventures.com/sp_feature ... _crab.html (http://www.spfadventures.com/sp_features/chimera_sand_crab.html)
Good link for tying instructions. I've used variations with success.

[acor23]

Here is what u need http://cdip.ucsd.edu/?nav=recent&sub=nowcast and go to forcast good luck.

[Tail Chaser]

Try http://www.wrh.noaa.gov Click on the area/waters you may want to launch at. Has the marine forcast there. Just noticed your a surf fisherman.
Forcast calls for some 30kt windgust from Pt Mugo to Palos Verdes.Winds should be at your back. Should help you cast out further :banana:

[ikeman]

Great swell maps and forecast site acor23, and excellent near shore swell tracks around the islands! And it's free!