Houghton Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's get into it.

First up, we're looking at a pretty grim run for the most part. The next week and a half is mostly a write-off, with a few tiny windows of hope. The first real chance to get wet isn't until Wednesday the 22nd of July, but even then, it's a specific call.

The standout is Tuesday the 28th of July. The morning is still a bit blown out, but the afternoon is where it's at. Houghton Bay cleans right up, with glassy conditions and a light south-west wind. The swell drops to 4 ft from the ESE, with a groundswell period of 14 seconds. That's a long period swell, which usually means nice, lined-up waves, especially on a reef or point setup. The energy is solid at 1219 (moderate), and it's being called excellent for experienced surfers. It's not a beginner's wave at that size and period, but if you're competent, that Tuesday afternoon window is the best we've got by a long shot. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so you won't need a thicker suit than usual.

Before that, the 22nd of July has a small window. Wednesday morning shows 4 ft from the south with a 12-second period, and light offshore winds from the NNE. It's a small, clean wave with 327 energy (moderate). It's inconsistent, so you'll be waiting for sets, but it's a paddle. The afternoon gets glassy, but the swell drops to 2 ft. It's a knee-high wave, but it's clean. The crowds are rated as "sometimes" here, so you might have a few others out, but it's nothing wild.

The rest of the run is a real struggle. From the 23rd through the 27th, it's all strong winds, huge onshore swell, or tiny, blown-out slop. The 25th and 26th see heavy rain and strong cross-onshore winds with 5 ft to 8 ft of messy, short-period swell – that's a kite-surfing setup, not a paddle-surfing one. The 27th is a full-on gale with 16 ft swell, a total write-off. There's a big gap of 5 days where there's nothing worth paddling for.

Looking further out, the first week of August has a few more possibilities, but nothing solid. The 2nd of August has a glassy afternoon with 2 ft from the SE, but it's marginal. The 5th of August shows a big 8 ft to 13 ft swell from the south, but it's accompanied by a strong cross-offshore wind that will make it a battle to get out and hold your line. It's a week and a half away, so it's promising but far from certain.

So, the call is clear: Tuesday the 28th of July afternoon at Houghton Bay is the pick. Don't hold your breath for much else.

Rusty.

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