Fort Fisher Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s going on around Fort Fisher.

Well, I gotta be straight with you – the outlook for the next 16 days is a tough one. There’s a big ol’ gap of nothing at the start, and honestly, the entire forecast window is a struggle. The first day we see any kind of measurable swell is Tuesday, July 28th, but it’s a real weakling. From there, we’re looking at a long, drawn-out run of tiny, poor-quality surf. The combined energy of the swells is almost non-existent, with the highest reading we get being just 53 (weak energy) on Sunday, August 2nd. It’s a flat spell, and for a spot like this, it’s not entirely unusual to see a blank run like this.

The only break in the mix is Fort Fisher, a beach and reef setup that’s inconsistent and can get crowded. The water is sitting at 83°, which is about average for the time of year.

Let’s break it down. We start Tuesday, July 28th, with a tiny 1ft swell from the ESE, period of 8 seconds. The wind is cross-off, but the energy is just 24. It’s poor. Wednesday the 29th is even smaller, a mere 0.7ft with a 9 (weak energy). Thursday the 30th morning has a slight bump to 1ft, but with a cross-on wind and a combined energy of 20 (weak). Thursday afternoon goes glassy, but the swell drops to a pathetic 0.3ft with an energy of 2. Friday and Saturday are similar, with tiny, weak, onshore-affected waves. The combined energy tops out at 33 on Saturday, August 1st.

Sunday, August 2nd, is the closest we get to a highlight, and that’s a sad statement. The morning shows a 2ft swell from the SE, period of 7 seconds, with a cross-off wind. The combined energy hits 53. It’s still poor and small, and the afternoon goes flat. Monday the 3rd is flat. The rest of the week into August 12th is a miserable run of 1.0ft to 1ft swells, mostly with cross-on or onshore winds, and combined energy values that rarely break 20. The wind is often a problem, creating chop.

Look, there is no standout here. There is no best session. The swell is too small and weak for any real surfing. Given the tiny size, onshore winds, and the beach component, this setup honestly looks more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer on a few of those days with a bit of breeze. For us, it’s a washout. The only sliver of hope is that this place is inconsistent, so it tends not to stay this poor forever, and forecasts can change.

Rusty.

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