Depot Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, checking in on the local surf scene down at Depot Beach. Let's be straight with you — this next couple of weeks is a bit of a mixed bag, with a fair bit of waiting around before we get a couple of solid windows that are worth paddling out for.

Right now, the water temperature is sitting about average for the time of year, so no wetsuit surprises there. The immediate outlook is pretty flat and quiet. There's a big gap of nothing really from Thursday the 13th of August through to the weekend of the 22nd and 23rd. We've got a few mornings with glassy conditions and small, weak swell, maybe a knee-high wave, but the combined energy is weak, mostly under 100 (175 and 86 for example). It's surfable in a "just to get wet" kind of way, but nothing to write home about. The wind does swing offshore on a few mornings, like Friday the 14th and Monday the 17th, but the swell is just too small and short-period to do much with. The setup is a beach break, so with that tiny, short-period energy (6 to 7 seconds), it's just not offering any shape.

The real standout comes in the second week of the forecast. The best bet on offer is Wednesday morning, the 26th of August. We see a solid pulse of S swell pushing 8 ft, with a period of 9 seconds and a combined energy of 1223 — that's strong wave energy. The wind is swinging cross-off from the SSW at 12 mph, which will keep the surface clean. This is a proper, powerful swell, but it's a heavy one. At 8 ft, this is strictly for the experienced crew. Beginners, stay on the sand for this one. The long period (9 seconds) is a decent groundswell, but with that size and a beach break, expect some heavy, shifting peaks.

The tail end of the forecast also looks promising. By Friday morning, the 28th of August, we’ve got another beauty. The swell drops back to a more manageable 4 ft, still from the S, but the period stretches out to a very long 12 seconds — that’s proper groundswell energy. The combined energy is still a solid 407, and the wind is glassy, absolute dead calm from the SSW. This is the one to circle on the calendar. Those long-period S swells love a point break or reef, but at Depot Beach, it’ll still offer some clean, well-shaped peaks with plenty of punch. The crowd situation can be "sometimes" busy, so if you can get out early, you’ll have it all to yourself.

So, to wrap it up: the first week and a half is a write-off for most, but you’ve got two clear standout sessions. The 26th of August for the big-wave hunters, and the 28th of August for the cleanest, most user-friendly conditions of the whole run. The 26th is a forecast, so keep an eye on it, but the 28th is lining up as a real gem.

Rusty.

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