Fishermans (Rhiw) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let me get a look at this. Fishermans (Rhiw) – that’s our only option here in this forecast window, and I gotta be straight with you… it’s looking bleak. The whole 16-day run is essentially a write-off for quality surf. We’ve got a big gap right from the start, with no real recommendation until very late in the period, and even that’s a marginal call.

The water temperature at this spot is sitting at 65° on Thursday the 20th, which is a massive 4° warmer than normal for the time of year – that’s properly unusual, like the ocean’s having a warm bath, but unfortunately the swell just isn’t playing ball.

From Thursday 20th August right through to the end of the month, it’s all poor surf conditions. Low swell, mostly under 3 ft, with short periods and cross-off winds that just aren’t setting things up for a good ride. There’s a few days of glassy or near-calm conditions (like Sunday 23rd morning with a glassy 0.3 ft swell, period 14 seconds) but the wave energy is tiny – weak, under 20 for the combined energy. It’s like the ocean’s barely breathing. You’d be sitting out there waiting for a ripple.

We do get a bit of a pulse around the 28th – Friday 28th morning, we see some 5 ft swell with a combined energy of 110 (moderate energy) but it’s coming with a strong cross-onshore 25 mph wind from the West, making it proper messy. The afternoon picks up a touch: 5 ft, still on that SW swell direction (which matches the optimum for Fishermans of SW), but the wind shifts to cross-shore, still fresh at 22 mph. The energy jumps to 184, but the forecast calls it poor – that cross-chop will ruin the face.

Later into the weekend, Saturday 29th afternoon sees a bigger 6 ft from the SSW, with moderate onshore wind, but the period jumps to 9 seconds and the combined energy hits a strong 505. That sounds big, but the wind is on it, and the direction is slightly off the optimum. It’s bordering on too big for beginners at over 5 ft, and the quality isn’t there.

By Sunday 30th, we’ve got a similar 6 ft on Saturday and 6 ft on Sunday, but again onshore and lumpy.

The one single standout, and I mean the *only* one worth a mention in this whole outlook, comes right at the very end: Wednesday 2nd September, morning session. Fishermans (Rhiw) shows a 6 ft swell from the NW, period only 6 seconds (short period windswell), combined energy 433 – that’s strong energy. It’s cross-off from the NW at 16 mph. The forecast says “marginal surf forecast” – not great, not terrible. The swell is over 5 ft, so it’s a bit much for beginners, and the short period means the waves might be a bit lumpy and close together, but the cross-off wind will clean it up. It’s the best of a bad lot.

For the rest of the period, every other slot is marked poor. A lot of onshore and cross-onshore winds, lumpy chop, and weak energy.

Look, it’s one of those runs where you’d be better off checking the forecast again in a few days. Things can change, but right now, the wave gods are sleeping. I’d be keeping my gear in the shed for most of this. If you’re desperate, maybe paddle out on that Wednesday 2nd morning – but don’t hold your breath.

Rusty.

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