Fort Fisher Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright crew, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.

We’ve got a 16-day stretch, but honestly, it’s a flat spell. The first real chance of anything rideable doesn’t even show up until the very end, and even then it’s a long shot. There’s a big gap of nothing from July 27th all the way through to August 9th. That’s a long, flat period. The swell energy is tiny for most of it, with combined energy readings barely cracking double digits – we’re talking 2 to 60 (weak energy). Not much to work with.

The only spot on the board is Fort Fisher, a beach and reef setup. It’s inconsistent, so don’t count on it. The water temp is 84°F, which is about average for this time of year.

Let’s break it down. Starting Monday, July 27th, we’ve got a tiny east swell around 2 ft at 8 seconds, but it’s onshore and messy. The whole first week is a write-off: waves are tiny, period is short, and the wind is all over the place. There’s a moment on July 29th with a light offshore wind, but the swell is a pathetic 1 ft – you’d be scratching for a knee-high dribbler. The weekend of August 1st and 2nd sees a slight bump, with the swell reaching 3 ft on Sunday the 2nd, but it’s from the SE at 7 seconds and the wind is howling at 19 mph. The combined energy is still only 60. That’s not surf, that’s a washing machine.

The second week looks a little cleaner offshore, but the swell is just as gutless. From August 4th to the 9th, we’re stuck on 1 ft to 2 ft waves with short periods. The wind is mostly cross-off or offshore, which is about the only saving grace, but there’s just no power behind it. The combined energy sits between 14 and 27 – weak, weak, weak.

Finally, around August 10th and 11th, we see a slight uptick. On Tuesday, August 11th, the afternoon shows a 1 ft swell from the SE at 8 seconds, and the combined energy jumps to 32. It’s still tiny, but it’s the best we’ve got. The wind is cross-off, so it’ll be clean. If you’re desperate, that’s your window. But don’t get your hopes up.

For a true standout? There isn’t one. The whole 16-day window is a flat spell. If you’re a kite surfer, the stronger winds on August 2nd might make it interesting, but for a paddle surfer, this is a time to wax the board and wait. Forecasts can change, but right now, it’s a bummer.

Rusty.

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