Devonport Rivermouth Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming down the pipe for the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, the first week is a proper bust. We’ve got a long stretch of flat or junk surf from now through to the 9th of August. The swell is either non-existent or so weak and short-period it’s not worth paddling out for. The few tiny bumps that do show up are getting torn up by onshore or cross-shore winds. You’re better off cleaning the wax off your boards or doing some fin repairs. This is a real test of patience.

Then, finally, the 10th of August rolls around and things start to get interesting. Monday morning is the standout. Devonport Rivermouth comes alive with a clean 7ft swell from the NW, period around 8 seconds. The wind is glassy – dead still – so the surface will be like a mirror. The combined wave energy is moderate to strong (697), so there’s some proper push behind it. The water temp is sitting at 13°C, which is about bang on average for this time of year, so nothing to write home about there. This is your window. It’s a point/river setup, so that groundswell energy will wrap in nicely. Keep in mind it’s an inconsistent break, so you might have to wait for the sets, but when they come, they’ll be clean. Also, it’s a beginner-friendly spot, so at 7ft it’s getting a bit of size – might be a little much for the absolute groms, but fine for anyone with a bit of time in the water. Crowds can pop up here sometimes, so get in early.

The afternoon of the 10th holds in with a 8ft NW swell, but the wind swings to a cross-offshore at 20 km/h, which will keep it reasonably clean, though the tide might make things a bit tricky. It’s still a solid option.

Now, things get a bit wild on the 11th of August. The swell absolutely hammers in at 15ft on Tuesday morning from the NNW, with a huge wave energy reading of 3690. That’s serious power. But the wind is a strong cross-onshore at 40 km/h, turning it into a messy, blown-out beast. This is expert-only territory, and honestly, with that wind and size, it’s looking more like a kite-surfing zone than a paddle spot. The afternoon drops slightly to 13ft, wind backs off a bit to 20 km/h cross-shore, but it’s still too big for the break in any comfortable way.

The swell drops back through the 12th and 13th, with a couple of those days showing 12ft and 8ft, but the wind is often cross or cross-off, keeping it lumpy. The 12th afternoon has a clean 12ft NW swell with cross-off wind, but again, that’s too big for this spot to be fun for most.

By the 14th of August, Friday morning, we get a more manageable 6ft NW swell with a clean cross-off breeze. The energy is moderate (398). It’s a decent option if you missed the Monday window, but the quality isn’t quite as high.

After that, the swell fades out again into small, short-period dribble with poor wind conditions for the rest of the forecast. The 16th and 17th have small 4ft and 1.0ft swells, but the wind is messy. It’s a classic case of here one day, gone the next.

So, to wrap it up: the best bet is Monday the 10th of August at Devonport Rivermouth. Get on it early. The 14th is a backup. The rest of the time, you’re waiting.

Rusty.

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