Fort Fisher Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into it. I’ve had a long look at what’s coming up for Fort Fisher, and I gotta be honest with you – it’s a tough stretch. We’ve got a solid 16-day window ahead, but the surf is looking pretty damn bleak for most of it. There’s a big gap of nothing but tiny, weak waves and funky winds right from the start.

The whole run is flat and small, with swell heights barely cracking 2 ft on the best days. The combined swell energy is weak, mostly sitting below 100 (65) to start, and only briefly touching moderate energy (115-146) around Monday the 7th and Tuesday the 8th of September. But even then, it’s all short-period windswell (4 to 7 seconds) coming from the east, straight onshore, and the water is going to be lumpy and messy.

We do have a few mornings with offshore winds – like Saturday the 5th morning with a clean 1 ft from the SE, and then again Thursday the 10th morning, Friday the 11th, and a few days after that. But the problem is the swell is just too small and weak to get excited about. It’s ankle to shin-high dribble, really. For an inconsistent spot like Fort Fisher that needs a decent push, this is a long dry spell.

The only time we see a pulse of energy is on Monday the 7th and Tuesday the 8th of September, with swell around 4 ft and 4 ft from the east, combined energy hitting 115 and 146. But the wind is a fresh cross-onshore or onshore breeze, and the period is a miserable 6-7 seconds. That’s going to be a choppy, blown-out mess at a beach and reef setup. For most of us, that’s more of a kite-surfing wind than a paddle-surfing wave. If you’re an expert on a big board and don’t mind the chop, maybe there’s a closeout barrel in there, but it’s not for the faint of heart.

So what’s the best on offer? Honestly, there isn’t a true standout. If I had to pick a window, it’d be the morning of Thursday the 10th of September. You’ve got light offshore wind (WSW 6 mph) and clean conditions, but the swell is only 1 ft at 9 seconds from the SE. It’s a longboard-only affair, if it breaks at all. The water temperature is a warm 82°F, which is about average for the time of year – not too hot, not too cold.

Don’t get your hopes up too much for the second week either. From the 12th onward, it’s back to tiny 1 ft to 2 ft waves with mixed winds. A few clean windows appear, but the energy is so low (20-55) it’s barely worth paddling out for. It’s a long stretch of flatness. For a spot that’s already inconsistent, this kind of blank run is more normal than unusual. Keep an eye on the forecast though – things can change.

Stay patient, folks. This one’s a write-off for the most part.

Rusty

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