Asakawa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. I’m looking at the next 16 days here, and honestly, the first few days are a bit of a write-off. We’ve got a slow start, but there is some serious firepower coming our way if you’ve got the patience and the skill.

The first decent window is a long way off. We’re looking at a gap of nearly three days with nothing worth paddling out for. The early stuff is small, messy, and not worth your time.

Friday, August 21st through to Sunday, August 23rd is flat or junky. Tiny swell around 1ft to 3ft, short period, and the wind is all over the place. It’s just not on.

Now, Monday, August 24th is where things start to get interesting. The morning session at Asakawa is a standout. We’ve got a solid 5ft swell coming from the SE, with a period of 19 seconds. That’s a very long-period groundswell, so it’s going to have a lot of power and shape. The energy is strong, sitting at 2114. The wind is glassy, which is a massive plus. This is a point break, so that long period will work beautifully – it’s not going to close out. The water is a warm 83°, and that’s about average for the time of year, so no surprises there. This is excellent for experienced surfers, but at 5ft, it’s pushing it for beginners. The crowds are a possibility here, so get there early.

Tuesday, August 25th morning is the absolute top of the menu. This is for experts only. We’re talking 13ft swell from the SSE, with a 16-second period. The combined energy is a massive 8733. The wind is glassy again. This is exceptional, but it’s big. You need to know what you’re doing. The afternoon blows up a bit with a cross-onshore wind, so the morning is the window.

Wednesday, August 26th and Thursday, August 27th are still solid in size, 12ft and 8ft, but the wind turns onshore and choppy, so the quality drops right off. It’s not worth the hassle.

Friday, August 28th morning is a nice little recovery. 8ft from the SSE, glassy wind, and the swell energy is down to 820. It’s a good, clean wave for the intermediate crew.

After that, it tails off again through the end of August and into the start of September. Small, weak, and choppy.

But then, hold on. Thursday, September 3rd is another huge one. The morning shows 8ft from the ESE, but the period is a staggering 20 seconds. The energy is 5979. The afternoon is even bigger at 12ft from the E, with a 19-second period and energy at 9420. This is very long-period groundswell, and it’s going to be a freight train. The morning has a slight cross-onshore, but it’s light. The afternoon is onshore, so the morning is the call. This is a major event, but it’s 13 days out, so treat it as promising but not locked in. It’s an expert-only day.

So, to sum it up: the two absolute standouts are Monday, August 24th morning and Tuesday, August 25th morning. The first is a beautiful, powerful groundswell with glass, the second is a proper big-wave day for the brave. The 3rd of September is a long-range beast that could be epic or a messy mess depending on the wind.

For the rest of it, it’s mostly small or onshore. Not much to get excited about.

- Rusty

Read more