Fort Fisher Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the table for the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, this is a pretty flat and quiet outlook for the region. The surf is going to be small and the conditions are only lining up for a couple of moments where it gets borderline interesting. The energy is weak, and there’s a lot of chop and cross-onshore junk to deal with through most of the period.

The only spot we’ve got to work with is Fort Fisher – a beach and reef setup that’s inconsistent and often has crowds. It’s fairly exposed to the swell, with an optimum direction from the NE. The water temp is about average for this time of year.

We kick off on Monday, 31 August, but it’s not worth paddling out. A risk of thunderstorms with a NE wind at 6 mph making it cross-onshore, and the swell is a tiny 1 ft from the ESE with a period of just 8 seconds. The combined energy is a weak 23. Afternoon is similar with a SE wind, still small. This is a write-off.

Tuesday, 1 September, the morning goes glassy – ENE wind at 3 mph, dead calm, but the swell is still only 2 ft from the ESE, period 7 seconds, and the energy is a paltry 43. It’s clean, but there’s almost nothing to ride. Afternoon gets a bit of cross-shore chop.

Wednesday, 2 September, is the first time we see a bit of life. The morning has a SSW wind at 6 mph, cross-offshore, clean conditions. Swell bumps up to 3 ft from the SE, period 10 seconds, and the combined energy hits 154 – that’s moderate energy. The wave comment says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” For this stretch, that’s the best we’ll get. It’s small, but it’s the standout of the forecast. Afternoon drops off again.

From Thursday, 3 September, through to the end of the forecast on 15 September, it’s a long, flat run. Swell heights hover between 0.7 ft and 3 ft, periods are short (4 to 11 seconds), and the combined energy is mostly under 100. Winds are often cross-offshore, which keeps the surface clean, but there’s just no power. The one exception is the morning of Tuesday, 8 September, where the period stretches to 11 seconds, but the swell is only 1 ft – not enough to do anything with.

The later part of the first week and all of the second week is a total blank. The best moment is that Wednesday, 2 September morning. Even then, it’s just a small, clean wave for the patient surfer on a log. Don’t expect much.

Rusty.

Read more