Lighthouse Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here again. Let’s break down the same 16-day stretch at Lighthouse Reef, but in feet and miles per hour.

Straight up, this ain’t a run of endless waves. The swell energy is patchy and the consistency is missing for anything long and proper. But if you pick your moments, there are a couple of windows that are definitely worth the wet exit.

The best of the lot is hands down Saturday morning, September 12th. We’ve got a clean 4ft SSE swell with a long 16-second period—proper groundswell. Combined energy is 682, so there’s some real weight behind it. Light NW wind holding cross-off keeps the face smooth. This is an advanced-only reef, and with that direction lining up with the optimum ENE, you’ll see some nice lines off the peak. It’s an inconsistent spot, so when it lights up like this, you want to be on it. Water temp is running at 51°—a touch warmer than usual for this time of year. A spring suit and maybe a thin bootie should do you fine.

That same Saturday afternoon, the wind swings east and builds, and it gets choppy. Leave it alone. Sunday morning the 13th is another clean morning with a smaller 2ft SSE swell at 12 seconds. Energy is down to 212, but the offshore NNW breeze means clean waves. Nothing epic, but a decent option for a reef regular. Crowds can show here sometimes, so early Sunday is your move if you want a quieter peak.

Monday the 14th glassey morning brings only 2ft at 10 seconds with weak energy (87). It’s rideable but barely. Then from Tuesday the 15th through Friday the 18th, it’s mostly tiny, short period, and often blown out or onshore. There’s a multi-day dry spell here where you’re best off staying on land.

Friday the 18th afternoon offers a small bump: 2ft SSE at 16 seconds (251 energy), clean cross-off wind. It’s surfable and the long period will push some shape through, but the size is marginal. Then Sunday the 20th morning shows a 4ft pulse at a short 8 seconds—not great shape but with clean WNW offshore wind, you could find a few soft ones if you’re just wanting to get wet.

From Tuesday the 22nd onward it’s mostly flat or wind-chop. The last flicker is Saturday the 26th morning: 2ft SSE with a 15-second period (152 energy), clean cross-off breeze. It’s a longboard morning—calm, peaceful, but don’t expect any barrels.

So to sum it up: Saturday the 12th morning is your best shot. Everything else is slim. Stay patient, check the forecasts, and right now it’s a game of pick and choose.

- Rusty

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