Banks Peninsula - Hickory Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty comin' at ya from the shore. Let's get into it.

We've got a real mixed bag of a forecast for Hickory Bay. It kicks off with a sweet little window, but then Mother Nature turns the dial up to eleven, and we're lookin' at some serious power that's a bit too much for this spot. After that, it settles back down for a nice run of clean, fun waves.

First up, Monday morning the 3rd of August is where you wanna be. The water is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, sitting at 50°F. We've got a nice 2ft SSW groundswell with a 12-second period rolling in, and a light WNW cross-offshore breeze is keeping it clean. The combined energy is moderate at 989, but the conditions are prime. This is a solid, welcoming option for beginners, but don't expect to have it to yourself as crowds are possible.

The swell builds fast. By Monday afternoon, the wind swings onshore and the swell jumps, making it a write-off. Tuesday and Wednesday are a washout. The swell pumps up to a massive 15ft with a strong 12-second period and the energy reading is an extreme 5543, but it's accompanied by howling onshore winds. This is strictly for the experts, and even then, the cross-onshore chop will be messy. Frankly, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

Now, here's the gem. Thursday morning the 6th of August. The ocean just takes a breath. We get a clean 5ft S swell with a 10-second period, and the wind goes absolutely glassy. The energy is a moderate 743. This is the standout of the whole forecast. Clean, glassy conditions and a fun-sized swell. It's a perfect day for a long session.

Friday the 7th is also a ripper. A beautiful 5ft S groundswell (13-second period) with a clean offshore breeze. The energy is solid at 1077. This is excellent for experienced surfers.

The weekend is smaller but still fun. Saturday the 8th is glassy again with 4ft S swell, and Sunday the 9th has a glassy afternoon with 3ft S swell. Nice small-wave boards.

The following week sees a drop in size, but the conditions are clean. From Monday the 10th to Wednesday the 12th, the swell is small and weak, with energy readings in the low hundreds. The wind is cross-offshore, so it's clean but tiny.

The second week is a bit of a wildcard. On Thursday the 13th of August, the swell picks up again to 7ft from the ESE, with a fresh offshore wind. The energy jumps to 1470, but it's a short 8-second period, which often means less power. Friday the 14th and Saturday the 15th morning are poor.

But then we get another standout window. Saturday afternoon the 15th of August goes glassy, with a 6ft NE swell. The energy is a moderate 714, and conditions are very good. Then Sunday the 16th of August has a big 12ft NE swell, but it's too big for this break. Monday the 17th of August is a beauty. Glassy conditions with a 7ft ENE swell (11-second period) and a massive 963 energy. This is excellent for the more experienced crew. Tuesday the 18th of August is another clean day with a 5ft ENE swell.

So, the best bets are Thursday the 6th for the glassy conditions and perfect size, and then Monday the 17th for the bigger, clean swell for the experienced surfers. The long-range standouts are promising but a bit less certain.

Rusty.

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