Waiaha Rivermouth / Honls Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Hey folks, Rusty here. Let's get into what's on the menu for the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – we're starting with a real slow cooker. The first few days have a bit of swell, but the conditions are just ordinary. We've got small, long-period groundswell coming from the SW and SSW, but the winds are mostly cross-onshore or onshore, which is killing the quality. For the first week or so, it's pretty slim pickings. There's a big gap with no real standouts until we hit the back half of the forecast.

Alright, let's talk specifics. The only break on the cards is Waiaha Rivermouth / Honls. It's a reef break, so this long-period groundswell we're seeing could actually set up alright here, rather than just racing past at a beach break. It's an advanced spot, so don't bring the foamie. The water temp is sitting at 82°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so the boardies are fine.

The first real flicker of life comes on Wednesday, September 16th, in the afternoon. We've got a glassy surface with a 2ft SSW swell. That combo is going to make Honls look clean, even if the size is small. Keep an eye on that window.

Honestly, the standout of this whole run looks like it could be Thursday, September 24th, in the afternoon. The swell is still modest at 2ft from the SW with a 14-second period, but we're looking at a cross-offshore breeze from the NNW and clean conditions. That's the kind of wind that can turn this reef into a real rippable wall. The combined wave energy is hitting 330, which is a moderate amount of push for this size.

The other real highlight is Friday, September 18th, in the afternoon. The swell is 2ft from the SW, but the energy jumps up to 527 in the "combined energy" rating – that's a solid moderate push. It's cross-onshore, but from the WNW, which can often line up nicely here. It's one of the better bets for some grunt behind the wave.

Most days the swell is under 3ft, but with the long periods and the right winds, it'll be plenty fun for an advanced crew on the right board. Because it's a reef and it's inconsistent, you'll have the place mostly to yourselves unless the word gets out. Crowds are listed as only "sometimes," so it's not a circus.

So, to sum it up: the first week is a grind with a couple of glassy moments. The best bets are the afternoon of Wednesday the 16th, and then aim for the afternoon of Thursday the 24th and the afternoon of Friday the 18th for the cleanest lines and the most push.

It's not a classic run, but it's a sneaky window. Stay patient.

- Rusty

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