Honkeys Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – this 16-day run for Honkeys is a tough one. We’re looking at a long stretch of poor conditions that doesn’t really let up until the very end. The first recommendation we get isn’t until the morning of Saturday the 15th of August, so that’s a solid 12-day gap with nothing worth paddling out for. Honestly, the first two weeks are a write-off, with moderate to fresh cross-onshore winds junking up the waves and the energy feeling weak to moderate for the most part. The water temp is sitting at 85°F which is about normal for the time of year, but you won’t be feeling it much with that wind in your face.

Things finally start to shift around the 15th. Saturday morning, the 15th of August, brings a little hope. We’ve got a 5ft swell from the SE, mixed with a cross-onshore wind that’s only a light breeze at 6 mph. The conditions are still marginal, but that’s a big improvement. The combined energy is moderate (619), and it’s a South-facing reef, so the swell direction isn’t a perfect match, but the drop in wind makes it the most interesting day of the whole outlook. The afternoon sees the wind turning onshore, but it’s still light.

The best of the whole run, and the only real standout, is the morning of Monday the 17th of August. We’ve got a 3ft swell from the SSW with a period of 14 seconds – that’s a proper groundswell. The wind is glassy, light and variable from the WSW at 6 mph, going onshore, which should keep the surface clean for a reef break like Honkeys. The water is still warm. The energy is moderate (625) and the wave comment finally gets a ‘2’ rating, which is the best we’ll see. It’s a small, clean day for the longboard or a fun fish. The following Tuesday morning also looks clean with very light winds, but the swell is dropping to 3ft.

Don’t get too excited about the bigger pulses in the first week, like the 5ft to 6ft stuff. The cross-onshore winds were just too strong and the wave comment was always “poor surf conditions”. That’s a miss. For a beginner, anything over 5ft is a bit much, and with the wind, it’s a no-go. For the experts, there’s nothing with enough quality until that last weekend.

So, to sum it up: the first two weeks are a bust. The last few days, from the 15th to the 18th, have some clean, small windows if you’re patient and don’t mind scaling down the board. It’s not a call to arms, but it’s a chance to get wet without getting chewed up.

Rusty.

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