Fort Fisher Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into it. Over the next 16 days, the outlook for Fort Fisher is pretty bleak. We’re looking at a long stretch of tiny, weak swell that just isn’t going to get the blood pumping. The water temperature is sitting at a warm 84°F — that’s about 1°F warmer than average for this time of year, so at least the ocean feels nice for a swim, but for surfing? It’s a tough watch.

From Wednesday, August 19, right through to the end of the first week, there’s basically nothing doing. Swell heights are stuck below 2 ft with periods of 8 to 9 seconds, meaning the combined energy is weak, hovering around 40–60 (43–60). The wind is mostly cross or cross-onshore, so the surface is choppy and messy. Saturday morning, August 22, goes glassy with a tiny 1 ft SE swell — calm, but utterly flat. Sunday the 23rd sees a cleaner 0.7 ft swell with a longer period of 12 seconds and offshore wind, but there’s just no size to work with. It’s frustrating.

The gap of poor conditions continues all the way through to the end of the month. Thursday, August 28, finally shows a bit of life: the swell bumps up to 2 ft from the SE, 9 seconds, with the combined energy jumping to 102 — moderate wave energy for the first time. The morning has clean offshore winds from the W, and the afternoon is gentle offshore from the WSW. It’s surfable, but honestly, very ordinary. The break at Fort Fisher is a beach and reef setup, exposed to the NE, but the swell is coming from the SE, which is off its optimum direction. It’s inconsistent here, so don’t expect much. The crowd factor is “often,” so if you’re paddling out, you won’t be alone. This is the best on offer in the whole outlook — a real “if you’re desperate” kind of session.

After that, things go back downhill. The weekend of August 29–30 sees a return to small, messy, cross-onshore junk. On Sunday, August 30, the swell climbs to 3 ft but with a short period of 9 seconds and onshore winds, making it choppy and poor. The combined energy is moderate at 106, but the quality is just not there.

Looking further out, the first two days of September give a glimmer of hope. Tuesday, September 1, shows a 1 ft swell from the SE with a long period of 13 seconds and clean cross-offshore winds in the morning — combined energy of 83. It’s still small, but that period gives it some shape. Wednesday, September 2, has a 2 ft ESE swell, 11 seconds, with clean winds and moderate energy of 106. Again, surfable but ordinary. Nothing here is going to get you excited.

So, to wrap it up: the only real standout is that Thursday, August 28, and maybe a cheeky dawn patrol on September 1 or 2 if you’re feeling optimistic. Otherwise, it’s a long, flat, frustrating run. The water is warm, the wind is mostly annoying, and the waves are just not cooperating. Forecasts can change, but right now, this is a tough one.

Rusty.

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