Banks Peninsula - Hickory Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s look at what we’ve got coming down the line for Hickory Bay. This is a beginner-friendly spot that’s fairly consistent, and it’s exposed to the swell. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The pattern starts on Wednesday morning, August 26th. We’ve got a clean, glassy 4ft swell rolling in from the SSW with a long 14-second period. The combined wave energy is moderate at 531, and with the glassy conditions, this is a real good look for a morning paddle. By the afternoon, the wind swings cross-onshore and picks up, making things messy, so get it early.

Thursday, August 27th sees a jump in size. Morning brings a solid 7ft S swell with a 16-second period, pushing the combined energy up to a strong 2217. The wind is cross-off and favorable, but this swell is getting a bit big for the beginners who usually love this break. It’s still clean, so more experienced surfers on bigger boards will enjoy it. The afternoon gets blown out by a 22 mph cross-off wind, so not great.

Friday, August 28th is a big one. We’re looking at a 10ft NE swell in the morning, dropping to 8ft in the afternoon. The period is a short 8 seconds, but the wind goes clean offshore all day. This is a big, chunky swell – way too big for beginners. This is strictly for the experts. The combined energy is strong at 1698 (morning) and 1094 (afternoon). It’s powerful but that short period might make it a bit lumpy at the takeoff.

Saturday, August 29th drops right back down. Morning has a 4ft NE swell with clean conditions, and the energy is a weak 335. This is a nice, manageable size for the beginners again, but the quality is just okay. Afternoon is even smaller at 3ft.

Sunday, August 30th is a write-off. The wind goes onshore and the surf is poor. Not worth a look.

Monday, August 31st brings a return of bigger surf. We’ve got an 8ft SSW swell with a long 11-second period. The wind is light and cross-off, making it clean. The combined energy is strong at 1357. Again, this is pushing the limit for beginners. It’s a better bet for the intermediate crew.

Tuesday, September 1st is the standout of the whole run. Morning shows an 12ft S swell with a 14-second period, and the energy is a very strong 4410. The wind is a light offshore. This is a serious, groundswell event. It is absolutely too big for beginners and even most intermediates. For the experts, this could be a session to remember. The afternoon drops to a still-hefty 8ft with a 12-second period, but with a gentle offshore wind. This is the window for the confident crew.

After that, we go into a quieter, inconsistent pattern from Wednesday, September 2nd through to the end of the forecast. The swell drops to under 3ft, and the energy levels are weak (between 230 and 522). The wind is often strong, making conditions marginal. There’s a glassy 2ft S swell on Thursday, September 3rd morning that looks clean and fun for the longboarders or beginners, and again on the morning of September 10th, but the size is tiny.

Overall, the best on offer is Tuesday, September 1st morning for the experts on the big groundswell. For the average surfer, the Thursday, August 27th morning session is the best bet for size and quality that’s still manageable.

Rusty.

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