Laniakea Reef and Holtons Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Look, I’m not gonna sugarcoat it – the next couple of weeks are a bust for the North Shore. Laniakea Reef and Holtons is the only spot in the picture, and for most of this run, it’s just flat.

Right now, we’re in a dead spell. From Thursday the 23rd of July through Sunday the 26th, there’s practically nothing. Tiny dribbles of 0.7ft from the NNW with a short 8 to 10 second period, but the energy is next to nothing – single digits (9) – and the wind is blowing a stiff 30 km/h cross-off from the east. The water temp is 79°, which is about average for the time of year, so no surprises there.

We get a little bump on Monday the 27th of July, with a 5ft NE swell. The period is short though, only 7 seconds, so it’s going to be a close-out mess. The combined energy jumps to 261 – that’s moderate – but the wind is still a fresh 25 km/h cross-off, so it’ll be bumpy. Not worth getting excited about.

The middle of the week (Tuesday 28th to Friday 31st) is a write-off. Swells between 0.3ft and 1ft, with most of the energy readings in the teens or low twenties. The wind stays moderate to fresh, cross-off or cross. There’s a day with a weird 21-second period from the SW on the 29th, but the swell height is only 0.3ft, so it’s a ghost. The whole first week and into the start of August is just flat.

Then, finally, we get a glimmer. On Thursday the 6th of August, the morning shows a 5ft NE swell with a 9-second period. The combined energy jumps to 483 – that’s strong wave energy. The wind is a gentle 15 km/h east cross-off, keeping things clean. This is the one standout in the whole 16-day window. It’s still a week and a half away, so take it with a grain of salt, but this is the closest we get to a real surf day. The swell direction (NE) is a bit off Laniakea’s preferred NW, but that energy is real. The period is under 11 seconds, so it’s not a classic long-period groundswell, but for this stretch, it’s the best on offer.

The afternoon of the 6th and into Friday the 7th drops back to 2ft from the west, with a much longer 15-16 second period, but the energy is moderate (around 186) and the wind picks back up to 25 km/h cross-off. Not worth chasing.

So, the plan: Laniakea Reef and Holtons is a consistent spot, and it’s a reef setup, so when it’s on, it’s on. But for this run, it’s mostly a flat, windy mess. That Thursday morning, 6th of August, is the one to watch. If you’re a beginner, that 5ft is fine, not too big. If you’re an expert, you’ll be hungry for anything by then. The reef can get crowded, and with this being the only real option, expect company.

Rusty.

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