Cocoa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll be straight with you – the next couple of weeks around Cocoa are a bit of a mixed bag. The forecast is full of onshore cross-offshore winds and short-period windswell, so we’re not looking at classic glassy perfection. The water’s sitting at a warm 84°, which is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

We’ve got a period of poor to marginal conditions kicking off Friday, August 28. The morning starts with 5 ft of short-period E swell at 7 seconds and a fresh 19 mph cross-off breeze. Combine that with the risk of thunderstorms and the combined energy is weak at 291. The afternoon goes slightly bigger to 6 ft but the wind doesn’t ease much, still cross-off at 16 mph. Honestly, not worth paddling out for. Saturday, August 29, is a write-off with a cross-shore wind and messy 4 ft to 5 ft NE swell.

Things finally start to show a pulse Sunday, August 30. We get a bump in swell to 7 ft from the ENE at a longer 10 seconds, and the combined wave energy jumps to moderate (1009). The wind is cross-off from the ESE at 16 mph, so it’s clean, but the wave comment still says marginal. That trend continues into Monday, August 31, with 6 ft E swell and moderate energy (505). It’s not epic, but it’s the best of a rough start – some fun ones if you’re keen.

The first week of September goes dry and flat again from Tuesday the 1st through to Friday the 4th with tiny, weak E swells and constant onshore wind. Then Saturday, September 5, offers a bit more hope: 7 ft E swell with a 10-second period and moderate energy at 740, with lighter 9 mph winds in the morning. Still cross-off, but cleaner.

Now, the real standout is the second week. Sunday, September 6, is a write-off, but hold on for Wednesday, September 9. Morning sees 8 ft of E swell at 9 seconds, combined energy of 987, and cross-off wind at 16 mph. The afternoon pushes the energy to 1000. That’s a solid, moderate-to-strong pulse of swell, but with 8 ft it’s getting into expert territory. The wind is cross-off, not offshore, so it’s not glassy perfection, but it’s consistent and has push. Thursday, September 10, keeps the energy high at 1009 with 8 ft E swell. If you’re a competent surfer and can handle the size, this is your window. Crowds at Cocoa are marked as “sometimes,” so you might have a few friends out, but nothing chaotic.

The swell direction is from the E, and with the optimum swell direction from the N, it’s not a perfect match – but at this size and consistency, it’ll still produce decent waves on this reef break. The period is 9 seconds, so it’s mid-range – not that long-period groundswell that tends to race and close out. It’ll have some shape.

From Friday, September 11, the swell starts to drop quickly back to 7 ft then down to 4 ft by Saturday, September 12. That wraps up the run.

My pick: Wednesday, September 9 and Thursday, September 10 are your best shots. Big E swell, moderate-to-strong energy, consistent and cross-off winds. Not perfect, but the best on offer.

Rusty.

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