Hunting Island Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here again, but this time in feet and knots. Let's look at what's goin' on for Hunting Island. I gotta be straight with you – this stretch of the forecast is a tough one for folks who just want to paddle out. The data is showing a real quiet spell, and honestly, for the first week and a half to two weeks, there's hardly anything worth getting wet for. We're talkin' a solid gap of nearly two weeks where the wave energy is just too weak to get any real push. The combined swell energy around this period mostly sits in the double digits, barely cracking 100, which is a classic sign of a flat spell. It's one of those times where the ocean just takes a nap.

We do finally see a glimmer of something on Monday, September 14th. The morning session at Hunting Island is about the only thing on the calendar, and even then, it's not a home run. The data says we've got very ordinary conditions with surfable waves. The swell is a tiny 1 ft from the ESE, but the wind is goin' light and variable from the SSW, which is a cross-offshore breeze. That’ll clean things up a bit, making it look a little better than what we've been seeing. The combined energy is still only 64, so it's weak, but it's the best of a bad bunch. For a beginner, maybe you can get a few crumbly rides on the inside, but don't expect any power.

The real fan-favorite conditions don't ever really show up. Mid-month, around Tuesday, September 15th morning, we see another blip with the same 2 ft from the SE and a light cross-off breeze from the SW, keeping it clean. Again, the combined energy is only 64, so super weak. It's a desperate time for a surf, and you'd have to be absolutely jonesin' for a paddle to count on it.

The water temperature here is sitting at a warm 84°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. That's nice for a swim, but doesn't help the waves.

For the second week, things don't improve. The swell stays tiny and the wind is often onshore or cross-on from the east. The combined energy figures are all below 100, with most sessions in the 30s and 40s. There's a puff of wind on Wednesday, September 16th morning from the WNW that's offshore, but the swell is only 2 ft. It's a tease. The entire 16-day window is a major disappointment for surfers. With such small, weak swell and inconsistent conditions, the lineup at Hunting Island will be all but empty.

So, what's the call? Don't hold your breath. This is a blank run for the area. The only real standout, and I use that term loosely, is the morning of September 14th. It's the only time the data says "surfable," and it's backed by the best wind conditions we'll see. It's a "maybe" if you're a total beginner and want to practice pop-ups on a foamie. Otherwise, it's a good time to tune up your board or go for a long walk on the beach.

Rusty, signing off.

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