Fort Fisher Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for our local stretch.

To be straight with you, the next sixteen days are lookin’ pretty flat for Fort Fisher. We’ve got a real dry spell on our hands—no standout sessions, no real juice to get excited about. The whole window is filled with tiny, weak energy. From now through to Sunday the 10th of August, we’re seein’ wave heights barely ticklin’ 2 ft. The first couple of days, Sunday the 26th and Monday the 27th of July, have a bit of knee-high chop from the ESE and E, but it’s all cross-shore wind and poor quality. Combined energy is laughable—between 27 and 49 (weak). The water temp is sittin’ around 84°, which is about average for the time of year, so no surprises there.

Tuesday the 28th of July cleans up a bit with some light SSW wind, but the swell is still just 2 ft from the SE. It’s clean, but too small to bother paddlin’ out for. Wednesday through Friday the 30th of July sees a bit of offshore wind, particularly Wednesday afternoon with WNW offshore at 12 mph, but the swell is basically flat—0.3 ft to 1 ft. You’d be chasin’ ripples, not waves. The energy readings are pitiful, often single digits (1 to 10).

We roll into August and it’s more of the same. The first week of August has a few clean windows with offshore or cross-off winds, like Tuesday the 4th of August mornin’ with light W offshore at 6 mph and a 2 ft SE swell, but it’s short-period junk at 7 seconds. Combined energy is only 25 (weak). Wednesday the 5th of August mornin’ also has moderate offshore wind from the W at 12 mph, but again, 1 ft from the SE. Nothin’ to write home about.

The second week doesn’t offer any relief. From the 6th to the 10th of August, it’s all 0.7 ft to 1 ft junk, mostly onshore or cross-onshore with occasional clean spells. Energy stays in the weak range (8 to 27). There’s no point sugar-coatin’ it—this is a long, flat run. No standouts, no real hope in any direction.

For a spot like Fort Fisher, which is inconsistent at the best of times, this kind of blank stretch isn’t unusual. It’s a beach-and-reef setup with a NE optimum swell direction, but we’re gettin’ nothin’ but small ESE and SE windswell. If the wind picks up strongly and you see those 1 ft–2 ft waves with fresh cross-shore breeze, it’d be more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer, but even then, it’s marginal.

So, keep the board in the car if you’re desperate for a splash, but honestly, don’t hold your breath. Forecasts can change, but right now, there’s nothin’ on the radar worth chasin’.

Stay patient,
Rusty

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