Waiaha Rivermouth / Honls Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the table for the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, we're looking at a pretty flat start. The first few days are a real struggle, with barely a ripple to get excited about. We've got a solid gap of nothing doing from the beginning until we start seeing some potential. The first real chance of anything worth paddling out for pops up around Sunday the 23rd.

The pick of the whole run is going to be Waiaha Rivermouth / Honls. This is a reef break that really needs a good south-southwest swell to come alive, and it's exposed to that direction. The water temp is sitting at 82°F, which is bang on average for this time of year, so no need for a thick wetsuit.

So, let's break it down. Sunday the 23rd afternoon, we get a glimpse of hope. The wind goes glassy, and there's a small 1ft swell from the south-southwest with a long period of 15 seconds. That's a proper groundswell, and even though it's small, the glassy conditions and the long period mean it could be clean and fun for the advanced crew. The combined energy is moderate at 200.

The real action, the one that gets the heart pumping, is looking like Monday the 31st of August and Tuesday the 1st of September. Monday afternoon is the standout. The swell is predicted to be 6ft from the south-southwest, with an 11-second period. The wind is forecast to be glassy from the southeast. This is an excellent surf condition for experienced surfers, with a strong combined wave energy of 1008. It's going to be big and powerful, so definitely not for beginners. With the break being rated as "often" crowded, expect a few other keen locals out there for this one.

Tuesday the 1st of September afternoon also looks fantastic. The swell drops slightly to 4ft from the southwest, 11-second period, but the wind stays glassy. This is cleaner and more manageable, with a very good energy reading of 602. This is the session for the surfer who wants quality without the maxed-out size.

There are a few other moments worth mentioning. Wednesday the 2nd of September afternoon sees a clean 4ft swell from the west-southwest with a cross-offshore wind, which is a nice setup for a point break style wave. Even later, around the 30th of August, the swell really starts to pump, hitting 6ft with a combined energy of 1096, but the wind is cross-onshore, which will mess up the face. It's a shame because the energy is there.

So, the long and short of it: be patient through the first week. The second week, particularly the 31st of August and 1st of September, are the ones to circle on the calendar. Keep your eyes on the forecast for those days, as it's a bit further out, but the potential is huge.

Rusty, signing off.

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