8th Street Jetty Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let’s have a look at what’s on offer. I’m looking at a real quiet stretch for 8th Street Jetty. To be honest, the next two weeks are looking pretty grim overall. The data shows a long run of days with hardly any real swell energy, and most of the time the waves are just too small to bother with. We’re talking a solid block from the start of the period, all the way through until around the 18th of August, where the wave heights barely tickle the 3 ft mark and the energy readings are mostly in the single digits or low double digits. You’d be chasing shadows.

The first real glimmer of something surfable shows up on the morning of the 19th of August. The swell bumps up to about 4 ft, coming from the south with a short period of 6 seconds. The combined energy is a moderate 106, which is at least a sign of life. The wind is offshore from the NNW, and the water temp is around 76°, which is about normal for this time of year. That morning session on the 19th is the only time in the whole window where we get a clean, offshore look with a bit of push. The afternoon on the 19th backs off a touch to 3 ft, but still with offshore winds from the NW, so it’s still rideable. After that, it drops right back to tiny, weak waves again.

So, if you’re desperate for a paddle, the morning of Wednesday the 19th of August is the standout. It’s not going to be epic, but it’s the only clean, offshore window with knee-to-waist high lines. The 8th Street Jetty is a beach and jetty setup, and with that short period south swell, it might be a bit lumpy, but the offshore breeze will tidy it up. Keep in mind it’s advanced-level only when it gets over 3 ft, so it’s not for learners. The crowds are often there, so you won’t be alone.

Honestly, for the rest of the time, the surf quality is rated as poor. There’s just not enough energy. The 18th of August has a brief uptick in swell with clean conditions, but the period is a very short 4 seconds, which means the waves will be weak and crumbly. It’s more of a wind-swell bump than anything with real shape. This is one of those stretches where you’d be better off leaving the board in the car and doing something else. The setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing on a few of those windy days, especially the 17th with fresh cross-onshore winds.

To sum it up: the 16-day window is mostly a write-off. The only real, albeit modest, call is the morning of the 19th of August. Don’t expect much else.

Rusty.

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