Surf Forecasts:
Fishermans Reef surf forecast from 14 Sep 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 17 Sep, 3PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 6s period, N swell with 134 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Fishermans Reef this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Fishermans Reef in the next 16 days are 1.4m 6s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 17) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 5s period and expected on Friday (Sep 18) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Thu 17th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Fishermans Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you: this stretch of coast is looking about as flat as a pancake. There is no surfable wave coming in for the entire 16-day forecast. Not one. If you were planning a surf trip, change plans.
The energy is weak, real weak. Most of these swells are putting out combined energy in the single digits or low 20s. The only slight hiccup is Thursday the 17th, when a short-period north windswell bumps things up to just under 5ft (1.4m), but the period is a poor 6 seconds and the wind is onshore. It’s going to be choppy and cross-onshore. That one’s not for the surfboard; it’s a kiteboarding day. Even that only gets to a moderate 143 on the energy scale. Everything else is 0.3ft to 1ft (0.1m to 0.3m) – ankle-slappers.
The only spot on the map is Fishermans Reef (Big Island). It’s a sheltered little reef, and it’s getting mostly offshore winds for a good chunk of this period, which would normally have it glassing off. You’ll see plenty of “off” and “clean” in the reports. But a clean puddle is still a puddle. This break breaks rarely, and it won’t be breaking on any of this.
There are a couple of mornings – Saturday the 19th and Sunday the 20th – that will have fresh offshore winds and clean lines, but the swell is just 0.3ft (0.1m). The glassy afternoon of Friday the 25th will be pretty to look at, but the waves are only about 0.7ft (0.2m). The water temp is right at the seasonal average, so no dramatic changes there.
It’s a dead stretch, no sugarcoating it. But for a sheltered reef, this kind of flat spell doesn't usually last forever. Forecasts can change. Keep an eye out, and maybe something will show up in the first week of the new month. Until then, you might as well take up golf.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Thu morning, min 11°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Thu night. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat morning, min 10°C on Thu night). Mainly strong winds. | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | ||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 12 | NNE 12 | NE 13 | NNE 13 | NE 13 | NE 12 | NNE 12 | N 4 | N 6 | N 7 | N 7 | NE 8 | NE 8 | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 14 | 15 | 7 | 16 | 26 | 25 | 14 | 24 | 134 | 43 | 15 | 10 | 11 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off |
High Tide | 9:38PM2.86m | 10:08AM2.82m | 10:20PM2.76m | 10:50AM2.74m | 11:02PM2.66m | 11:31AM2.63m | 11:44PM2.55m | 12:13PM2.52m | 00:27AM2.44m | 12:58PM2.41m | 1:13AM2.35m | 1:50PM2.33m | 2:03AM2.28m | ||||||
Low Tide | 3:50AM0.56m | 4:07PM0.65m | 4:30AM0.63m | 4:50PM0.75m | 5:11AM0.72m | 5:35PM0.86m | 5:53AM0.82m | 6:24PM0.96m | 6:39AM0.93m | 7:17PM1.05m | 7:28AM1.02m | 8:12PM1.11m | |||||||
 |  |  | | | |  | |  |  |  |  | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — |
 | — | — | 6:10 | — | — | 6:12 | — | — | 6:12 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:14 | — | — | 6:15 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 9 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 17 | 15 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 13 |
Feels °C | 10 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 12 | NNE 12 | NE 11 | NNE 13 | NE 13 | NE 12 | NNE 12 | NNE 12 | NE 12 | N 7 | N 7 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 9 | NE 10 | NE 9 | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 |
| kJ | 14 | 15 | 5 | 16 | 26 | 25 | 14 | 14 | 6 | 43 | 15 | 10 | 11 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | E 9 | NE 13 | N 12 | N 11 | E 8 | N 10 | E 13 | E 13 | NE 12 | NE 11 | N 7 | E 13 | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | NE 9 | — | — |
| kJ | 1 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | N 12 | E 9 | NE 11 | E 8 | N 11 | N 11 | N 11 | — | E 12 | E 12 | E 14 | N 7 | — | N 7 | N 9 | N 8 | — | — |
| kJ | — | 3 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | 3 | 3 | 4 | 1 | — | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 3 | — | — | SW 2 | — | — | NNW 2 | N 4 | N 6 | SSW 4 | SW 4 | SSW 5 | SW 5 | SW 4 | SW 4 | WSW 4 | WSW 4 | SW 4 | SSW 4 |
| kJ | 2 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | 24 | 134 | 34 | 24 | 83 | 76 | 35 | 15 | 21 | 27 | 17 | 19 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 46 | 45 | 217 | 217 | 227 | 349 | 110 | 349 | 349 | 39 | 103 | 106 | 194 | 284 | 331 | 349 | 353 | 284 | 217 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Auckland | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Fishermans Reef Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Fishermans Reef provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Fishermans Reef can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Fishermans Reef surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Fishermans Reef) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Fishermans Reef may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Fishermans Reef is 20 km (12 miles) from the city of Northshore. If you plan a holiday in Auckland, look for hotels and other accommodation in Northshore. Northshore has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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