Fort Fisher Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the table for Fort Fisher over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – this is a tough one. The forecast is looking pretty flat and quiet for a long stretch. We're talking about a solid run of days with barely a ripple. From now through to the end of August and into the first days of September, you're looking at tiny waves, mostly around 1ft, with a short period of 7 to 9 seconds. That's just not enough energy to get you into anything worthwhile. The combined swell energy is weak, sitting in the 20s and 30s (24-55). The wind is clean for many of those mornings, especially with a light offshore or glassy conditions, but there's just no swell to work with. It's a frustrating wait.

Now, the first real glimmer of hope shows up on Wednesday, September 2nd. The morning session brings a little bump up to 2ft from the SE, with a period stretching to 11 seconds. That's a slight increase in energy, hitting 121 (moderate), and the early wind is a clean cross-offshore from the WSW. The "wave comment" even calls it "surfable waves," but "very ordinary conditions." It's still tiny, and the afternoon gets blown out by a strong 15 mph wind, so you'd need to be on it early for a longboard or a foiler. Still, a score of 1 out of 10 tells you everything you need to know – it's a minor improvement, not a standout.

The rest of the first week of September is more of the same: tiny 1ft to 2ft waves with poor energy. A few mornings have that gentle offshore wind from the WSW, which is nice and clean, but the swell just isn't there. The 9th of September afternoon sees a jump to 3ft, but it's a short-period 6-second windswell from the SSE, which is a messy, lumpy option. The combined energy is only 100, so it's weak. Combined with a strong 15 mph wind, it's not going to be a pretty sight.

The real standout, if you could even call it that, is that Wednesday, September 2nd morning. It's the only day that even gets a "surfable" nod. But honestly, for a proper surf, this 16-day window is a total dud. The water temp is a warm 84°F, which is about 1°F warmer than normal for this time of year – nothing too unusual there.

For a spot like Fort Fisher, which is a beach and reef setup that's inconsistent, a blank run like this isn't totally out of the ordinary. It's a waiting game, and forecasts can change. For now, with the swell direction being SE and the optimum being NE, even the setup isn't ideal. The tiny waves and poor quality mean this is more of a paddleboard or swim spot than a surf break for the foreseeable future. The only thing worth noting is that if you're desperate, that Wednesday morning might get you a few small, clean ankle-biters.

Rusty.

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