Waiaha Rivermouth / Honls Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s happening at Waiaha Rivermouth / Honls over the next couple of weeks.

First up, the start of the period is a total dud. We’ve got tiny, weak swell from the south, mostly under 2ft, with messy cross and cross-on winds. The wave energy is low (145), and it’s just poor surf day after day. Water temp is 81°, which is normal for this time of year, so nothing wild there.

The first real sign of life comes on Saturday, August 8th. The swell stays small, but we get a glassy window on Saturday afternoon with a 1ft SSW swell, period 18 seconds, at 204 energy. That’s a long-period groundswell, and for a reef setup like Honls, it’ll hold shape nicely, even if it’s small.

The best day of the whole run is Wednesday, August 12th. The combined energy hits 1129, with a 4ft S swell, period 18 seconds. That’s a proper groundswell, and with light cross-on winds, it’s going to be clean and powerful. This is the one to circle – a classic reef day for advanced surfers. It’s too big for beginners at over 3ft, but for the experienced crew, it’s going to be pumping. The optimum swell direction from the guidance is SSW, and we’re getting a S swell, which is a damn good match.

Later in the second week, on Sunday, August 16th, and Monday, August 17th, we get another dose of glassy conditions. A 3ft W swell, period 14 seconds, with the energy moderate (333 and 250). The wind goes dead calm or glassy, which means mirror-like faces. The swell direction is shifting west, but for a reef, it’ll still offer fun, clean rides. Crowds are listed as “sometimes,” so you might have a few guys out, but it won’t be packed.

Bottom line: skip the first week. The real action is on August 12th for the biggest, most powerful waves, and the glassy days on the 16th and 17th for clean, smaller surf. The near-term forecast is solid, and the long-range stuff is looking promising.

This is Rusty, signing off.

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