Houghton Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.

The next couple of weeks are a mixed bag for Houghton Bay. We’ve got a bit of a quiet start, then a big nasty pulse of wind and swell that’ll shut things down, but there are a couple of windows of clean, fun surf if you’re patient.

We kick off on Tuesday, 28 July, and that’s the best we’re gonna see for a while. Tuesday morning is the standout. You’ve got clean 4ft swell from the ESE with a solid 12-second period. The wind is light offshore from the north, making for clean, lined-up waves. The water temp is 55°, just about average for this time of year, so a decent 4/3 will do. The combined energy is moderate at 561, so there’s some push. It’s a bit inconsistent, so you’ll have to wait for the sets, but the quality is there. Tuesday afternoon drops off a little to 4ft, but still clean and cross-off, so you can get a session in.

Then the wind cranks. Wednesday 29 July through to Friday 31 July is a write-off. Strong offshore winds, 22-28 mph, blowing the guts out of the swell. The waves are tiny, 1.0ft to 3ft. Not worth paddling for.

Saturday 1 August and Sunday 2 August are a full-on, angry ocean. Southerly gales, 31 mph, slamming onshore. The swell jumps to 15ft to 16ft, with massive energy readings of 4087 and 6325. That’s a huge, powerful, and messy swell. This is a full-blown, expert-only situation, and honestly, Houghton Bay is a beach and reef setup, so with that kind of power and onshore wind, it’s going to be a washing machine. If you’re into kite surfing, this might look interesting, but for a paddle surfer, it’s a hard no.

We get a break on Monday 3 August morning. The wind swings back to a light offshore from the north, only 3 mph. The swell is a clean 5ft from the SSE with a 10-second period. The energy is moderate at 572. This is a solid, clean option, but Monday afternoon the wind picks up again, making it hard work.

Tuesday 4 August morning is a real gem. The wind goes glassy, the swell is 6ft from the south with a short 6-second period, which means it’ll be a bit weak and choppy. Still, glassy conditions are so rare you have to take it. The energy is moderate at 527. The afternoon turns onshore and messy.

The rest of the first week into August stays marginal. Light winds, mixed swell, but nothing to get excited about until we get a glassy morning again on Thursday 6 August with 4ft from the south and 11-second period. It’s clean, but small.

Now, looking ahead to the second week, there’s one big, promising but uncertain event. Friday 7 August and Saturday 8 August. We’ve got a massive 20ft and 18ft swell from the south on Friday, with a very long 14-second period. The energy is through the roof... 13566 on Friday morning. That’s a huge groundswell. The problem is the wind is cross-onshore, so it’s going to be lumpy. A long period groundswell like this, with that size, is best for a reef or point, not a beach. It might be alright for experts on the sets, but the chop will be a battle. Saturday 8 August is still a big 10ft, but the wind is a little lighter and more cross-onshore. It’s marginal.

So, to wrap it up: Tuesday 28 July morning is the hands-down best on offer. Clean, offshore, waist-to-chest high fun. The second standout is the glassy Tuesday 4 August morning, but it’s a short period, so manage expectations. The big south swell on 7-8 August is a huge, powerful beast, but it’s not clean, so it’s going to be a meaty, messy challenge.

Stay safe, and keep an eye on the sky.

Rusty.

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