Fishermans Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here again. Let’s talk about what’s cookin’ in the water for Fishermans Reef.

Honestly, it’s a tough stretch ahead. We’re looking at a long dry spell with nothing worth paddling out for, and I mean not a single decent wave for the first twelve days. The good news is, the last few days of the window show some promise, but it’s a long wait.

The water temp is sitting at 57°, which is about 0.9° cooler than normal for this time of year, so pretty average, nothing to write home about.

For the first week and a half, from Friday the 14th all the way through to Tuesday the 26th, it’s flat or near flat. We’ve got tiny dribbles of swell, mostly 0.7 ft to 4 ft, but the energy is weak (combined energy mostly under 200, often in the double digits). Winds are a mix of light offshore and cross-off, but even with clean conditions, there’s just no push. The wave comment says “poor surf conditions” for every single one of those days, and the guidance confirms this is a rare-break spot, so this blank run is sadly normal.

There’s a small bump on the 24th and 25th, with swell heights around 5 ft to 6 ft from the north, but those get a score of zero and are described as “poor surf conditions.” The wind is clean but the swell is short period (6 to 7 seconds) and messy, so not worth the drive.

Now, the one standout – and I mean the *only* one – is Thursday the 27th of August. On the morning of the 27th, we’ve got a solid 10 ft swell from the north-northeast, with a moderate combined energy of 1096. The wind is light and cross-off from the west, so the surface will be clean. The period is short at 8 seconds, so it’s not gonna be a long-period groundswell, but for a spot that rarely breaks, 10 ft is a big event. That said, Fishermans Reef is a very sheltered reef, so it needs the right direction, and this north-northeast swell is not its optimum (NE is preferred), so it might be a bit walled up or wonky. The rating is beginner, but 10 ft is too big for beginners – this is expert-only territory. If you’re a solid surfer and you’ve been waiting, this is your window. The afternoon of the 27th drops to 6 ft, still rideable but less exciting.

The 28th and 29th have some leftover swell, but the scores are low and the conditions are just okay. Nothing else in the 16-day window is worth a second look.

So, my advice: wait for the morning of the 27th, but only if you’ve got the skills. Otherwise, it’s a long, quiet stretch.

Rusty.

Read more