Aisling's Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s be straight—this 16-day window for Aisling’s Beach is not the kind of run that gets you out of bed before dawn. There’s a big lull at the start, then a couple of brief windows where it might just about be worth a paddle, so don’t get your hopes up too high.

We kick off Wednesday the 19th of August with nothing doing. Tiny bumps and cross-on winds make it pretty miserable—combined swell energy is just 77, so it’s weak as dishwater, and that continues right through the week. The water’s sitting at 61°, which is about a degree warmer than usual for this time of year, so it’s a touch on the mild side, but you won’t feel it when you’re leaning on your rail in a 0.4ft south-east swell.

The first real flicker of hope shows up on Thursday afternoon the 20th. Still small at 5ft from the north-east, but a light west-north-west breeze gets cross-off and the ocean cleans up. The energy picks up to 208, so it’s moderate, and the setup is a beach and point, so you can pick your corner. The swell period is short though—only 6 seconds—so it’s a bit fat and weak, but for a beginner spot, it’s manageable. Expect crowds sometimes.

Friday the 21st morning is glassy with a 2ft north-east swell, but the energy is down to 29—barely a ripple. Not worth the wetsuit. Saturday the 22nd and Sunday the 23rd are glassy too but swell is even smaller, under 1.0ft. It’s flat, plain and simple.

Monday morning the 24th offers a slight pulse: 2ft north-east, glassy, but the energy is only 53. The comment says “surfable but ordinary,” and that’s about all you can say. Then Tuesday the 25th brings light rain and a light offshore from the south-south-west, with the swell bumping to 3ft from the east-north-east and the period stretching to 8 seconds. Energy hits 118. It’s clean but still very modest. Not a stand-out.

The first real stand-out of the run lands on Thursday morning the 27th of August. The swell is 5ft from the south-east, period a solid 9 seconds, and a light offshore from the south-west keeps it clean. Energy is 303, moderate but healthy. That’s the pick of the first week. Conditions are good, glassy edges, and the break is fairly consistent for a beach and point. The swell direction matches the optimum from the south-east, so it’s lining up properly.

Friday afternoon the 28th is another decent window: 4ft south-east swell, period up to 11 seconds, so it’s a proper groundswell. Energy is 309, moderate, with a light south cross-off. Clean waves, but that longer period might make it a bit walled at the beach—still, for the point section, it’ll reel off nicely.

Then we hit a stretch of fresh offshore winds on the 29th and 30th, but the swell drops back to 2ft and 4ft, and the energy falls away. It’s clean but marginal. The second week, from the 31st of August onward, stays small and inconsistent. Monday the 31st morning is glassy with a 3ft south-south-west swell and energy of 222—clean and surfable, but nothing special.

From Tuesday the 1st of September, the swell sticks around 2ft to 4ft, mostly from the east or north-east with short periods. The wind stays cross-on or onshore. Energy drops to two-digit numbers again by Wednesday the 2nd. The final few days into Thursday the 3rd show barely any life. It’s a long, quiet run for an exposed beach and point.

So for the best bets across the whole outlook: Thursday morning the 27th of August is your true stand-out. That 5ft south-east swell with a light offshore and moderate energy will give you clean, fun waves at Aisling’s Beach. Friday afternoon the 28th is the backup—smaller but with that longer 11-second period, so expect some quality if you’re patient. The rest is for the hardcore or the kite crew, because when the swell is under 2ft and the wind is cross-on, you’re better off staying ashore.

Stay salty.
Rusty.

Read more