This is a regional read for the whole Monterey Bay & Big Sur coast — global wave model checked against nearby live buoys and a coastal wave model. Mornings lean toward cross-shore winds (86% of the morning windows with data); afternoons lean toward cross-shore winds (86%). Confidence is reasonable for the first 4 days and drops to "rough estimate" after that.
Board ranges below are each board's full min→max spectrum from the Quivr catalog — the same chart the app draws — and "fits" counts how many of this week's half-day windows a board's wave and power windows overlap. Nothing here is a guess about a particular beach.
Estimates come from a global ocean wave model sampled offshore and translated into ranges. Actual size varies from beach to beach along this stretch; sheltered spots run smaller. Reads describe the whole coast, not one break — check wind and tide at your spot before paddling out. Reads are refreshed weekly on this page and several times a day in the Quivr app, which also matches each day against the boards in your own quiver. Notes on this week's data: Most of the wave energy is local wind chop rather than swell — expect a disorganised, weak surface.
Day by day: Sep 21–27, 2026
Morning is 6am–noon, afternoon is noon–7pm local. Words come straight from the regional read; "No data" means the wave model had no hours for that window.
| Day | Morning | Afternoon | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon Sep 21 | Head-high · mellow, not much push · light wind | Head-high · mellow, not much push · light wind | Fairly confident |
| Tue Sep 22 | Head- to overhead · moderate push · light cross-shore wind | Overhead · moderate push · moderate cross-shore wind — some texture | Fairly confident |
| Wed Sep 23 | Overhead · moderate push · moderate cross-shore wind — some texture | Overhead · moderate push · light cross-shore wind | Reasonable estimate |
| Thu Sep 24 | Head- to overhead · moderate push · light cross-shore wind | Head- to overhead · moderate push · light cross-shore wind | Reasonable estimate |
| Fri Sep 25 | Head-high · mellow, not much push · moderate cross-shore wind — some texture | Head- to overhead · moderate push · moderate cross-shore wind — some texture | Rough estimate |
| Sat Sep 26 | Overhead · moderate push · moderate cross-shore wind — some texture | Overhead · moderate push · light cross-shore wind | Rough estimate |
| Sun Sep 27 | Head- to overhead · moderate push · moderate cross-shore wind — some texture | Overhead · moderate push · moderate cross-shore wind — some texture | Rough estimate |
Boards that fit the Monterey Bay & Big Sur coast this week
| Board | Fits | Wave size | Power | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panda Surfboards Shiitake | 14 of 14 windows | Head-high → double-overhead+ | Soft | Intermediate to advanced |
| Panda Surfboards The Shrizz | 14 of 14 windows | Head-high → double-overhead+ | Moderate | Beginner-friendly to intermediate |
| DHD MF Lightning | 14 of 14 windows | Head-high → double-overhead+ | Moderate | Intermediate to advanced |
| Tomo Surfboards El Tomo Grande | 14 of 14 windows | Chest-high → double-overhead+ | Moderate | Intermediate to advanced |
| Christenson Osprey | 14 of 14 windows | Waist-high → double-overhead+ | Moderate | Beginner-friendly to advanced |
| Channel Islands CI Mid | 14 of 14 windows | Waist-high → double-overhead+ | Moderate | Beginner-friendly to intermediate |
| Lost / Mayhem Sub Scorcher 2 (Doublewing Swallow) | 14 of 14 windows | Overhead → double-overhead+ | Soft | Beginner-friendly to intermediate |
The picks, in order
1. Panda Surfboards Shiitake
Panda Surfboards Shiitake runs head-high to double-overhead+; that wave window overlaps every one of the 14 half-day windows we have data for this week. Its soft power midpoint is mellower than the week's typical push, so expect it to feel liveliest on the softer windows. A fish with an intermediate to advanced skill window.
Quivr catalog read: The Shiitake is a longer fish that offers great glide and maneuverability, making it ideal for bigger surfers looking to enjoy shoulder-high waves and above.
Category: Fish · Swallow tail · Catalog ability: Beginner to Expert · 5.0★ from 1 Quivr rating
2. Panda Surfboards The Shrizz
Panda Surfboards The Shrizz runs head-high to double-overhead+; that wave window overlaps every one of the 14 half-day windows we have data for this week. Its moderate power midpoint sits close to the week's typical push. A hybrid with a beginner-friendly to intermediate skill window.
Quivr catalog read: The Shrizz offers a unique blend of glide and speed, making it suitable for shortboarders looking for a fish-like experience.
Category: Hybrid · Swallow tail · Catalog ability: Beginner to Intermediate
3. DHD MF Lightning
DHD MF Lightning runs head-high to double-overhead+; that wave window overlaps every one of the 14 half-day windows we have data for this week. Its moderate power midpoint sits close to the week's typical push. A performance shortboard with an intermediate to advanced skill window.
Quivr catalog read: The MF Lightning excels in smaller, weaker surf while still performing well in larger, less powerful conditions.
Category: Performance shortboard · Catalog ability: intermediate
4. Tomo Surfboards El Tomo Grande
Tomo Surfboards El Tomo Grande runs chest-high to double-overhead+; that wave window overlaps every one of the 14 half-day windows we have data for this week. Its moderate power midpoint sits close to the week's typical push. A fish with an intermediate to advanced skill window.
Quivr catalog read: The El Tomo Grande is designed for high-speed performance in overhead conditions, making it an excellent choice for experienced surfers looking to navigate busy lineups with ease.
Category: Fish · Pulled-in tail · Catalog ability: intermediate
5. Christenson Osprey
Christenson Osprey runs waist-high to double-overhead+; that wave window overlaps every one of the 14 half-day windows we have data for this week. Its moderate power midpoint is mellower than the week's typical push, so expect it to feel liveliest on the softer windows. A midlength with a beginner-friendly to advanced skill window.
Quivr catalog read: The Osprey is a versatile board that excels in a variety of surf conditions, offering speed and control.
Category: Midlength · Catalog ability: intermediate
6. Channel Islands CI Mid
Channel Islands CI Mid runs waist-high to double-overhead+; that wave window overlaps every one of the 14 half-day windows we have data for this week. Its moderate power midpoint is mellower than the week's typical push, so expect it to feel liveliest on the softer windows. A midlength with a beginner-friendly to intermediate skill window.
Quivr catalog read: The CI Mid is a versatile midlength board that excels in shoulder-high to nearly double overhead waves.
Category: Midlength · Catalog ability: intermediate · 4.0★ from 1 Quivr rating
7. Lost / Mayhem Sub Scorcher 2 (Doublewing Swallow)
Lost / Mayhem Sub Scorcher 2 (Doublewing Swallow) runs overhead to double-overhead+; that wave window overlaps every one of the 14 half-day windows we have data for this week. Its soft power midpoint is mellower than the week's typical push, so expect it to feel liveliest on the softer windows. A small-wave shortboard with a beginner-friendly to intermediate skill window.
Quivr catalog read: The Sub Scorcher 2 is designed for easy riding in small waves, making it perfect for surfers looking for a forgiving and fun board.
Category: Small-wave shortboard · Doublewing swallow tail · Catalog ability: beginner
Best fit by shape this week
One board per shape, chosen by how many of this week's 14 windows its wave and power windows overlap. Only shapes that overlap at least half the week are listed.
| Shape | Board | Fits | Wave size | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shortboard | Panda Surfboards The Shrizz | 14 of 14 windows | Head-high → double-overhead+ | Moderate |
| Groveler | Panda Surfboards The Spring Fling | 14 of 14 windows | Head-high → double-overhead+ | Soft |
| Fish | Panda Surfboards Shiitake | 14 of 14 windows | Head-high → double-overhead+ | Soft |
| Twin fin | Panda Surfboards Shiitake | 14 of 14 windows | Head-high → double-overhead+ | Soft |
| Midlength | Panda Surfboards Middle Age Rage | 14 of 14 windows | Waist-high → double-overhead+ | Soft |
| Longboard | TC Surfboards Retro Single Fin | 14 of 14 windows | Knee-high → overhead | Moderate |
| Step-up | Panda Surfboards Middle Age Rage | 14 of 14 windows | Waist-high → double-overhead+ | Soft |
What this week asks of a board on the Monterey Bay & Big Sur coast
Every window with data reads head-high or bigger. A board whose wave window only tops out around head-high will feel short on hold; every pick below runs into overhead territory.
Most windows read "moderate push" for push. A board's power midpoint tells you where it will feel alive: mellower boards on the softer windows, firmer boards when the push is there. The table shows each board's own midpoint so the call is yours.
Already own one of these?
Add it to your quiver in Quivr and the Home tab does this matching for you — every day, against your own boards, for the coast you pick. If none of your boards overlap a window, it says so rather than forcing a pick.
Shopping instead? Open two of the picks above in Compare and read the low end of the wave-size range first — on a head-high week that decides whether a board gets used.
Compare these picks head to head
Live Quivr comparison pages for pairs in this list — same spectra, side by side:
FAQ
How big will the surf be on the Monterey Bay & Big Sur coast this week?
Across Sep 21–27, 2026 the regional read runs head-high to overhead. The most size shows Wed Sep 23 morning, overhead (reasonable estimate); the smallest window is Mon Sep 21 morning, head-high. Confidence is reasonable for the first 4 days and drops to "rough estimate" after that. Sheltered beaches along this stretch run smaller than the read.
Which surfboards fit the Monterey Bay & Big Sur coast this week?
Shiitake, The Shrizz, MF Lightning overlap the most of this week's 14 surf windows on catalog wave-size and power spectra; the shapes that fit best are fish, hybrid and performance shortboard. Open any of them in Quivr to see the full range chart and compare two side by side.
Which day has the most size on the Monterey Bay & Big Sur coast?
Wed Sep 23 morning, overhead (reasonable estimate). Size builds Tue and Sat and eases Thu. Mornings lean toward cross-shore winds (86% of the morning windows with data); afternoons lean toward cross-shore winds (86%).
Does this apply to my exact spot?
No single spot is named or predicted here. The read describes the Monterey Bay & Big Sur coast as a whole — a stretch of coast facing roughly the same direction. Estimates come from a global ocean wave model sampled offshore and translated into ranges. Actual size varies from beach to beach along this stretch; sheltered spots run smaller. Reads describe the whole coast, not one break — check wind and tide at your spot before paddling out.
How often is this page updated?
Every week, with the same seven-day regional read the Quivr app shows on its Home tab. The app refreshes several times a day and also tells you which board in your own quiver fits each day.