Jennette's Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s take a look at what’s on the table for the next couple of weeks at Jennette's Pier. Straight up, I’ve got to be honest with you—it’s a grim run. The whole 16-day window is basically a write-off for anything worth paddling out for. We’re looking at a long stretch of weak surf and messy conditions, with no real window of quality to get excited about. The first real pulse doesn’t show up until Thursday, August 27th, and even then, it’s not exactly gonna have you calling in sick.

For the first week or so, from Sunday the 16th right through to the 26th of August, the swell is tiny—waist-high at absolute best, mostly just knee-to-thigh high slop. The energy is weak, often in the low double digits, sometimes barely cracking 50 (combined swell energy around 11-80). Winds are mostly onshore or cross-shore, chopping up whatever little bumps there are. There’s a rare moment of glass on Thursday the 20th morning, but with swell at 0.4m and a short period of 8 seconds, it’s barely a ripple. Not worth hurrying for.

Then, on the morning of Thursday, August 27th, we finally see a bit of life. Swell ticks up to 0.7m from the ESE with a period of 12 seconds—that’s a groundswell, with some real energy behind it (combined energy of 157). The wind swings NNW at 15 km/h, which is cross-offshore and puts a clean face on things. This is hands-down the best moment in the entire outlook, but even then, the size is small, and the quality is only described as “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” It’s not a standout in any usual sense; it’s just the least bad option. Jennette’s is a beach/jetty setup, and with that longer 12-second period, it might offer a few better-shaped lines, but given the consistent nature of this break, it’s nothing special.

After that, the swell stays small and the winds turn messy again, so the 27th morning is your one and only realistic look-in. The rest of the month is a slog of onshore chop and tiny surf. If you’re a beginner, the swell never gets above 1.5m, so there’s no danger, but there’s also nothing to ride. For kites, with the persistent side-to-onshore wind and small, weak surf, it’s not ideal either.

The water temperature is a touch warmer than normal for the time of year, sitting at around 83°F—so at least you won’t need a thick suit, just a lot of patience.

Bottom line: if you’re desperate, keep an eye on that Thursday the 27th morning, but don’t expect much. This area tends to have dry spells, and this is one of them. Forecasts can change though—keep checking, but for now, maybe save the wax.

- Rusty

Read more