Bird Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. Water temp is just about 56°, so pretty standard for the season, nothing crazy going on there.

We’ve got a bit of a slow start to this stretch at Bird Rock (Tahiti). The next few days, Thursday and Friday, are looking rough. Swell is there, but the wind is all over the place and the waves have that wind-chopped, cross-shore mess on them. You’d be paddling out for a fight, not a good time. Thursday morning has some size at 8ft with a 16-second period, but that cross wind is just going to wreck it. The energy is solid (3464), but it's a wasted opportunity.

It’s not until Saturday morning that things start cleaning up. We get a shift to a light cross-offshore wind, and the swell settles to a clean 6ft, with that long-period SW groundswell (15 seconds) and moderate energy (1352). This is where it starts to get good. Saturday afternoon just gets better for the average surfer, a touch smaller at 5ft but glassy and clean. The wind is barely there. That's a good session.

Sunday and Monday are pretty poor. Swell drops right off and it just gets small and weak. Not worth the paddle, honestly. But hold on, because the ocean is just catching its breath.

Tuesday the 15th brings a big pulse of energy. Morning sees a solid 12ft SW swell, but the wind turns onshore and it's messy and cross-choppy. The energy is huge (6876), but it’s a blown-out mess. Too big and too rough for a good time. Afternoon drops off in size but the wind gets worse. Not the day.

Wednesday the 16th is a bit better, cleaner at 7ft but that cross-onshore wind is still a problem. It’s surfable, but you’re on the wrong side of the wind direction.

Now, looking ahead. The real standout is shaping up for Friday the 18th. This is the one. Friday afternoon we’ve got a clean 10ft SSW groundswell with a very long 15-second period, pushing in solid energy (4485), and the wind is light offshore. This is Bird Rock at its best—big, powerful, clean. This is an advanced wave, for sure. Over 8ft, this is experts only. If you’re not confident, watch from the channel because this will be a proper session. The morning is also good, with a slightly smaller 6ft, still offshore, still solid.

After that, there’s a bit of a drop-off again for a few days. The swell goes flat and small from the 19th through the 23rd. There's some tiny, clean stuff, but nothing with any drive.

But the long-range crystal ball is showing something else. Around the 24th of September, which is over a week out, there’s another pulse. It’s a bit of a different animal, though. We’re looking at 10ft SSW swell, but the period is short, only 8 seconds. That’s a wind swell, not the long-period groundswell we love. It’ll be powerful, but peaky and maybe a bit sections, especially at a reef like this. The wind is looking light or offshore, which is a huge plus, so it could still be a lot of fun for the experts out there. But keep in mind, a short-period swell that big can get unruly. It's promising but less certain this far out.

So, to sum up. The pick of the fortnight is definitely Friday the 18th afternoon. Big, clean, offshore. That's your standout. The 24th is also worth watching, but it's a secondary option with that short-period swell.

Be patient through the flat spells, the ocean’s just making room for the good stuff.

Rusty.

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