Banks Peninsula - Hickory Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about Hickory Bay.

The next couple of weeks are a real mixed bag. The trouble is, this spot is super exposed and gets a lot of swell, and when the wind swings around from the south-west, it just slams straight onshore and turns things into a washing machine. We’ll have some clean windows, but you gotta pick your moments.

It kicks off on the afternoon of Thursday the 13th. We’ve got a 6ft NE windswell pushing in, period’s a short 8 seconds, so not a ton of shape, but the wind is a light cross-off from the NNE at 6 mph. That’s clean enough for a beginner-friendly wave. Water temp is 50°, about a degree warmer than normal, so still chilly but not crazy. The combined energy is moderate at 463.

Friday the 14th is where it gets interesting. The morning’s a bit average with a weak cross-on, but the afternoon goes glassy. That’s a major win. It’s small at 3ft from the ENE, but with zero wind and a short period, it’ll be clean and fun for a longboard or a foiler. Combined energy is 207 – light but workable.

Saturday the 15th and Sunday the 16th are write-offs. The wind cranks from the SSW at 12 mph, straight onshore. The water’s a mess. Don’t even bother.

Monday the 17th morning has some potential, but there’s a catch. Swell jumps to 8ft from the SSW, but the period is a weak 7 seconds. That’s a lot of lumpy water with no power. Combined energy is 665 (moderate), but the forecast says it’s too big for beginners, and for most surfers it’s just gonna be a churning closeout with a cross-shore wind.

Wednesday the 19th is a stand-out for the wrong reasons. The swell is massive. 8ft from the south with a period of 16 seconds. That’s a long-period groundswell with very strong energy (3707). The wind is cross-on at 9 mph. This is expert-only territory. The wave will be powerful and walled up, but that onshore wind will make it a bumpy, challenging paddle for even the best. Kite surfers will love the wind and the push, but for a paddle surfer, it’s a mission.

Then we get a little window on Friday the 21st of August. The swell drops to a manageable 5ft from the SSW, period a solid 12 seconds, and we get a clean offshore wind from the NNW at 6 mph in the morning, picking up a little from the north in the afternoon. Combined energy is 634 – decent power. This is your best bet for the whole period if you can get in the water. Clean, punchy, long-interval lines.

The next week is smaller and less consistent. Saturday the 22nd has some clean little waves in the afternoon. Sunday the 23rd is just a strong offshore wind with tiny waves. The best of the rest looks like Tuesday the 25th afternoon, with a 2ft SSW groundswell at 14 seconds and a gentle offshore wind. Small but tidy. Then Thursday the 27th morning has a nice 5ft ENE swell, short period but clean with a cross-off breeze – that one could be a fun little session if the banks are working.

Honestly, if you want the best surf, make a plan for Friday the 21st. That’s your standout. The rest is picking through scraps.

Rusty.

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