Fort Fisher Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Well folks, it’s Rusty here, and I’ve got to be straight with you: the next couple of weeks are looking pretty grim for a proper surf. We’ve got a long stretch of small, weak, and messy conditions ahead. Honestly, for the first week and more, you’d be better off finding something else to do than stare at a flat ocean.

The first real glimmer of anything comes on Saturday, August 8th, in the afternoon. We’re looking at a weak 3ft of swell, but it’s from the southeast with a short period of 8 seconds, so the energy is minimal. The combined wave energy is only 107, which is weak. It’s surfable but very ordinary – you might get a few crumbly little waves if you’re desperate. The wind will be a cross-offshore breeze, which keeps it clean, but it’s nothing to write home about.

The rest of the first week and into the second is a write-off. We’re talking about swell dropping to under 1ft, with periods of 6 to 9 seconds. The combined energy is in the single digits or teens – that’s as weak as it gets. There’s a lot of "poor surf conditions" in the data. Basically, a full week of nothing. The wind will be clean at times, but that’s like polishing a turd. There’s no wave to ride.

Now, for the one highlight in this otherwise bleak outlook. On the morning of Thursday, August 20th, we finally see a pulse. The swell jumps to 4.6ft from the southeast with an 8-second period. The combined energy rises to 221, which is still only moderate, but it’s a huge step up from everything we’ve seen. More importantly, the winds are forecast to be glassy. Absolutely dead flat. This is the one time in the 16-day window where it’s going to be clean and have a bit of push. It’s still not a classic, but it’s the only window that offers a chance at a decent wave.

For the breaks, we’re looking at Fort Fisher. It’s a beach and reef setup, but it’s inconsistent at the best of times, and given the lack of swell, it’s likely to be a frustrating spot. The water temp is a normal 82° for this time of year, so no surprises there. The southeast swell direction is okay, but nothing special. The crowd factor is a gamble, but with these conditions, they probably won't be out in force.

After that, it fades back into the flatness. The forecast for the end of the period shows a return to tiny, weak swell with poor conditions, so don't get your hopes up for a late-week miracle. This is a long drought, folks. We might see some more size around the 19th, but the wind is looking onshore and messy, which would just chop up any potential. All in all, the 20th is your one shot, and even that is a "maybe" for a fun surf. Keep the board waxed, but maybe start working on your tan.

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