Fort Fisher Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – looking at the next couple of weeks for Fort Fisher, and it’s a real mixed bag, mostly of the flat and forgettable variety. We’ve got a long, quiet spell to start, so don’t be in a rush.

The outlook kicks off with nothing worth paddling for. From Sunday the 9th right through the entire following week, it’s a write-off. We’re talking tiny scraps of swell, barely registering a pulse, with the combined wave energy stuck in the weak zone (34 or less). The wind is mostly cross-off or onshore, and while the water is a warm 83°F, about average for this time of year, the surf just isn’t there. You’d be better off with a cold drink than a cold wax job.

That flat spell stretches for a full week. We finally see a faint pulse of life around Saturday the 15th afternoon, with a bit of a bump from the ENE. It pushes the combined energy to a moderate 100, but the period is a short 5 seconds, making for messy, choppy conditions with cross-onshore wind. Still a no-go for a decent paddle.

The real glimmer in this whole 16-day window comes on Monday morning, August 17th. We get a bit of a cleaner window. The swell is a small 2ft from the SE with an 8-second period, but the key here is the wind: a clean offshore breeze from the WNW. The combined energy is still only moderate at 62, but the conditions will be clean. It’s not a standout for power, but it’s the best look we’ve got – a small, clean wave for an intermediate board on a quiet morning. The break is an inconsistent beach and reef setup, so it can be a bit fickle, but with the offshore wind, it’s worth a look if you’re desperate. Be warned, it can get crowded, so get there early.

After that, it fades back into small, weak slop. Tuesday the 18th sees a long-period, 15-second groundswell roll in from the SE, but the combined energy climbs to a moderate 124-141. The problem? Strong onshore easterly winds. That combo at a beach and reef break is a recipe for a washing machine – honestly, that setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. By Thursday the 20th, it’s back to tiny 2ft surf with clean but weak conditions.

The second week stays stubbornly small. The mornings of the 23rd and 24th offer a clean, glassy start with light offshore winds, but the swell is only 1ft from the SE with a short 8-second period and combined energy in the teens to low 30s. It’s ankle-snappers for the longboard, and nothing more.

So, for this stretch, you’ve got one real window: Monday the 17th. It’s a small, clean morning session for the patient surfer. Otherwise, keep your board in the bag and wait for a better forecast.

Rusty.

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