Fishermans (Rhiw) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you: the next 16 days at Fishermans (Rhiw) are a proper write-off for surf. I’ve been staring at this stretch and it’s a long, bleak run. There’s not a single good session on the cards.

The water is sitting at 64°F – that’s much warmer than normal for this time of year, about 4°F above average, which is a real treat for the skin, but there’s no wave quality to enjoy it with.

We kick off Monday the 31st of August with a weak 3ft SW swell and a cross-offshore wind out of the NW at 35 km/h, which keeps the surface clean. The combined energy is only 142 – that’s weak. But the surfing is labelled poor, and the wind is a fresh breeze, so it’s not doing you any favours. By the afternoon, the wind swings to the west, 20 km/h, and goes cross shore, making it choppy.

Tuesday the 1st of September, the swell drops to 3ft, period plummets to 4 seconds – that’s pure wind-chop, no energy at all (16). The wind is onshore and strong from the SW at 25 km/h. It’s just no good.

Wednesday the 2nd sees a slight bump to 5ft, but that’s a 5-second period, and the wind is howling onshore from the S at 30 km/h. The energy kicks up to 99, still weak, but the conditions are messy. By the afternoon we’re at 5ft with 6-second period and 35 km/h onshore wind. Total washout.

The same story runs through Thursday and Friday the 3rd and 4th – 5ft to 6ft of SW swell, but the wind is a strong breeze, cross-onshore, 40 km/h, making it cross-onshore and messy. Energy climbs to 281, but it’s all for nothing.

Saturday the 5th, the swell drops right back to 3ft, and Sunday the 6th it’s 2ft with 4-second period and onshore wind. There’s basically nothing.

There’s a faint glimmer Monday the 7th of September morning: a 4ft SW swell with a cross-offshore NW wind at 20 km/h, keeping it clean. Energy is 84 – weak. But it’s still labelled poor surf. Not enough to bother with.

From the 8th through the 13th, it’s a desert. Tiny swells, onshore winds, and periods of 4 to 6 seconds. The energy readings are pitiful – mostly below 100. The 13th sees a 3ft SSE swell, but again, 4-second period and onshore wind.

Then the swell tries to build again on the 14th of September. Monday morning: 5ft from the SW, 8-second period, energy jumps to 297 – that’s moderate. But the wind is a fresh 30 km/h cross-onshore, making it lumpy. By the 15th, we’re looking at 8ft from the WSW with 8-second period and a near gale of 50 km/h cross-onshore wind. That’s 716 energy – strong – but it’s blown out. Only experts would even consider it, and even then, it’d be a mess.

The whole 16-day window is a bust. No standouts, no sessions worth the paddle. Sometimes the ocean just shuts down like this. Forecasts can change, but right now, I’d leave the board in the van.

Rusty.

Read more