Fernandina Beach Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty. Let’s break down what’s happening.

To be honest, the next couple of weeks are looking pretty flat and ugly for Fernandina Beach Pier. We’ve got a long run of tiny, weak, wind-blown swell that just won’t shape up. There’s one short window that might offer something, but you’ll need to be patient.

Right now, for Sunday the 13th, it’s knee-high. We’re talking 1ft of weak, 8-second ESE swell, with the combined energy at a measly 28. Water temps are a touch warmer than usual for this time of year, sitting around 85°. The morning is clean with a light westerly, but there’s just no push. The afternoon brings a sea breeze that chops it up.

The whole first week is more of the same. Monday the 14th has a brief glassy window in the afternoon with that same tiny 1ft swell, but it’s not worth the effort. From Tuesday the 15th through to the 21st, the wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore, and the swell stays small, weak, and jumbled. The period drops to 4-7 seconds, so it’s all windswell with no power.

There is one little glimmer. On the morning of Tuesday the 22nd, we get a pulse of 5ft swell from the E, with a period of 8 seconds. The combined energy jumps to 287 (moderate wave energy). More importantly, the wind is a light NNW, blowing cross-offshore. That should clean it right up. The waves will still be a bit soft for that size, but it’s the best chance we get for a session where the conditions aren’t fighting you. It won’t be perfect, but it’s the only morning in the whole run that scores any kind of “good” rating. Keep in mind, the swell direction is from the E, and the optimum for this spot is from the NE, so it won’t be breaking at its absolute best.

After that, it’s back to the same old story. From the 23rd right through to the 28th, we’re stuck with onshore and cross-onshore winds, with swell hanging around the 4ft to 6ft mark, but the period drops back to a miserable 6-7 seconds. The energy stays moderate (200-329 range), but it’s all messy and chopped up. It’s not worth paddling out unless you enjoy a washing machine.

So, the long and short of it: the entire 16-day window is a write-off except for the morning of Tuesday the 22nd. That’s your one chance. For everything else, you’re better off waiting for the next forecast update. It won’t stay poor forever.

Rusty.

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