Hobe Sound/The Refuge Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for the next couple weeks.

To be honest, the outlook is a flat patch for the most part. We’re looking at a long stretch of pretty minimal surf, and what’s on offer is weak. Things don’t even really get going until the second week, and even then it’s nothing to write home about.

For the first several days, right through the end of July and into the beginning of August, we’re dealing with tiny, weak waves. The swell is small, the period is short, and the energy is basically non-existent. The combined energy values are all in the single digits or low teens, which is about as weak as it gets. There's a few windows of clean conditions with offshore winds, but on ankle-biters like 0.7 ft to 1 ft, it’s just not worth paddling out unless you’re desperate to get wet.

There’s a bit of a shift starting around August 2nd, but it’s still poor. The swell picks up to a whole 2 ft from the south (S) on the 2nd, but the period is a shocking 4 seconds, which is just wind chop. The combined energy bumps up to 24, but it’s still messy thanks to cross-onshore winds.

The only real pulse of energy comes in the second week. On Friday, August 7th, we see a jump to 4 ft from the ESE, with a period of 5 seconds. The combined energy finally hits triple digits at 112 (moderate wave energy). Saturday the 8th stays around 3 ft from the E, but the period is still short and the wind is cross-onshore. This is the best the entire 16-day window has to offer, but it’s still not great. The waves will be lumpy and weak, more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer, honestly. After that, it fades back down into the 3 ft to 3 ft range with no real power.

So, where does that leave us? The only spot to even mention is Hobe Sound/The Refuge (Hobe-Sound). It’s a beach-and-reef setup, fairly consistent, and exposed to the NE, which is its optimum direction. The wave quality is just poor across the board. There’s no standout, no epic session hiding in the data. The water temperature is sitting at 85°, which is pretty much average for the time of year, so you won’t need a wetsuit.

Crowds are listed as "sometimes" at Hobe Sound, but with surf this marginal, I wouldn't worry about a crowd. The rare consistent spot here is just a case of "if you’re really jonesing, you might find a knee-high ripple."

It’s a blank run, plain and simple. This area is known for these flat spells, so don’t be surprised. Forecasts can change, but right now, the advice is to wax the longboard, or just stay home.

Rusty.

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