Japs Cove Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get straight into it.

The long-range outlook for Japs Cove is pretty bleak, and I’m not going to sugarcoat it. We’re looking at a solid stretch of small, junky surf for the next couple of weeks. The swell direction is consistent from the SSW, which is what this spot wants, but the size and the wind just aren't lining up for anything rideable. Most days the sea’s going to be a mess of cross-onshore wind and chop, with waves barely mustering a foot and a half. It’s the kind of forecast that makes you want to hang up the wetsuit for a week and do some fishing instead.

The first real possibility, and even that’s being generous, doesn’t show up until Friday the 28th of August, which is more than a week and a half away. Even then, it’s a marginal call. We’ve got a slight bump in energy with the combined swell energy hitting 413, but the height is still only around 3ft. The morning glass-off from a light SE breeze is the only window that might produce something, but the tide and the swell period are finicky. The period is a long 18 seconds, so it’s a proper groundswell, but at this size, it’s mostly just going to make the ocean look fuller without giving us any real push. The combined energy is moderate, but it’s not enough to overcome the lack of size.

Before that, there’s nothing. From now until then, the swell hovers between 1ft and 3ft, with the energy mostly in the low-to-mid hundreds, which is weak. We’re looking at a long dry spell of at least a couple of weeks with no real surf on offer. The winds are all over the place – SW, WSW, W – but it’s consistently cross-onshore or onshore, which will chop up anything that tries to form. Even the days with lighter winds have that cross-on component that will keep it bumpy. This is a tricky stretch; Japs Cove is an inconsistent spot anyway, and this run is just typical of how it can shut down completely.

So, there you have it. Don’t get your hopes up for any standouts. The water is a balmy 71°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year, but it’s not going to make up for the lack of waves. We’re in a waiting game. With the consistency this poor, it’s not a good sign, but forecasts can change. Keep an eye out for that morning of the 28th as the only glimmer, but I wouldn’t rearrange your schedule for it.

Stay patient,
Rusty

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