Surf Forecasts:
Fishermans Reef surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 18 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 9s period, E swell with 41 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 0.5m 9s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 5s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Fishermans Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, it’s Rusty here.
Look, I’m gonna level with you. The next couple of weeks are looking grim. We’ve got a rare-break setup at Fishermans Reef that just isn’t doing anything. You’re looking at a solid stretch of tiny, weak, and pretty much unsurfable waves. We’re talking about a run of days with nothing on the cards, just flat and messy conditions.
The first real bit of swell we see is around the 23rd of August, with a bump of 3ft from the northwest, but it’s short-period, weak energy (48), and the wind is a fresh cross-offshore. It’s not going to be pretty, and it’s not going to be worth the paddle. From there, it’s back to almost nothing again – those 0.3ft days just aren't surf. There’s a slight pickup around the 27th and 28th, with some 3ft – 3ft swell from the north, but again, it’s short-period stuff (5-6 seconds), and the winds are a mix of cross-off and cross-on, so it’s not going to be clean.
The most interesting window, and I use that term loosely, is the morning of the 1st of September. There’s a 3ft northeast swell with a 6-second period, and the wind is glassy. That’s the standout of the whole period, and it’s still small and weak (80). The 2nd of September has a bit more size at 4ft, but it’s accompanied by a strong cross-onshore wind, so it’s going to be a messy, choppy mess. Not worth it for a paddle, honestly.
With the swell being this small and the wind being mostly offshore or cross-off, the surface will be clean, but there just isn't any power. For a reef break that’s as sheltered as this, it’s a classic case of a blank run. It happens. The water temp is 57°, which is right around average for this time of year. When it’s this flat and this weak, you’re honestly better off staying home or finding something else to do. There will be a few days where the wind is howling, and the lack of swell just makes it a washing machine. Not a good sign for us.
Stay patient, keep an eye on that first week of September, because that’s the only glimmer we’ve got, and even that’s a distant maybe.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Tue afternoon, min 8°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun morning, min 12°C on Fri morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the NW on Fri morning, fresh winds from the WNW by Sun morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | 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) | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 9 | E 10 | E 8 | E 12 | NE 14 | E 14 | NW 4 | NE 13 | E 12 | E 12 | NE 11 | NE 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 61 | 40 | 14 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 36 | 21 | 15 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 5 | 38 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 11:23AM2.77m | 11:37PM2.76m | 12:07PM2.67m | 00:21AM2.63m | 12:51PM2.55m | 1:06AM2.51m | 1:39PM2.43m | 1:54AM2.39m | 2:34PM2.34m | 2:47AM2.31m | 3:40PM2.31m | 3:47AM2.27m | 4:43PM2.34m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:22PM0.71m | 5:50AM0.69m | 6:10PM0.84m | 6:34AM0.80m | 7:01PM0.96m | 7:21AM0.92m | 7:55PM1.05m | 8:11AM1.02m | 8:50PM1.12m | 9:04AM1.09m | 9:46PM1.15m | 10:01AM1.11m | 10:43PM1.15m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | | | | | | | |  | | | | |  |  | | | | |
 | 7:00 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — |
 | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | 6 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 11 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 13 |
Feels °C | 5 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 9 | E 10 | E 8 | NNW 3 | — | NE 11 | E 13 | E 12 | NNW 7 | N 5 | N 5 | — |
| kJ | 61 | 40 | 14 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 39 | 36 | 21 | 15 | 7 | 5 | 1 | — | 5 | 3 | 3 | 15 | 2 | 2 | — |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 11 | N 11 | N 10 | N 10 | SE 5 | ESE 6 | — | — | — | — | E 5 | E 11 | E 9 | NE 14 | E 14 | NE 13 | NE 13 | E 12 | E 12 | NE 11 | NE 12 |
| kJ | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 5 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | N 10 | NE 10 | E 7 | E 12 | — | — | — | — | — | N 12 | E 12 | E 8 | N 14 | — | E 10 | NE 11 | N 7 | N 7 | E 12 |
| kJ | — | — | 2 | 4 | 1 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | 1 | 4 | — | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 3 | S 3 | SSW 4 | S 5 | SSE 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 3 | WSW 3 | WNW 3 | WNW 3 | NW 4 | NW 4 | W 3 | WSW 3 | W 3 | W 3 |
| kJ | 5 | 3 | 11 | 54 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 38 | 39 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 5 | 69 | 91 | 188 | 46 | 39 | 39 | 45 | 76 | 76 | 91 | 111 | 351 | 351 | 353 | 353 | 353 | 28 | 209 | 217 | 251 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Auckland | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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