Inch Reefs Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, surfers, ol’ Rusty here, and we’ve got a real mixed bag of a forecast ahead for Inch Reefs. It's a point break that needs a good SW groundswell to really fire, but man, we're going to have to earn it.

The overall pattern is a bit of a cruel joke. The first 12 days of this 16-day window are basically a write-off for anything decent. We’ve got some energy pulsing in, but the wind gods are just not playing ball at all. It’s not until Sunday the 13th that things finally look like they might click into place.

Right now, the water is sitting at 64°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. You’d think that’d be a good sign, but it’s been small and messy for days. Tuesday the 1st and Wednesday the 2nd are a total no-go, with weak swells and nasty cross-onshore winds. The swell energy gets a bit more serious on Thursday the 3rd, climbing to a moderate 758 (combined energy) in the morning, but with a short 8-second period and onshore wind, it’s just a bumpy mess. That trend continues into the weekend with solid, big swells – we’re talking 10 ft on Friday the 4th morning and again on Sunday the 6th afternoon with very strong energy (1966), but each time the wind is cross-onshore or straight onshore, making it un-rideable here.

The one day that breaks the pattern is Monday the 7th afternoon. The swell is a solid 10 ft from the WSW, period at 9 seconds, and the wind swings light cross-shore. The combined energy is a strong 1373. But here's the rub: this spot is an advanced break, and a 10 ft wave here is going to be a full-on, heavy ledge. It’s just too big for most. Only the real experts need apply that afternoon, and even then, it's a handful.

After that, the ocean takes a breather with tiny, weak waves and strong winds through the second week. But then we get our moment. Sunday the 13th is your standout window. The morning kicks off with a 6 ft groundswell from the west, period hitting a juicy 11 seconds, and a very clean 875 combined energy. The wind is off-shore from the north, glassy, and clean. The afternoon is even better with light NNW winds. This is the kind of clean, lined-up point surf you’d drive an hour for. It’s still a good size for a point break, not too scary, and with that longer period, the waves will have real push and shape. Just be aware it’s a fairly consistent spot, but it can get a crowd, so get there early. The rest of the week looks like it drops right back off again.

So, to sum it up: grin and bear the first 12 days of grey chop. The real action is all on Sunday the 13th of September. Circle that date.

- Rusty

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