Masonboro Inlet Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s brewing for our stretch of coast.

Honestly, I’ve gotta level with you – the next couple of weeks are looking pretty grim. We’re staring down a long, dry spell with hardly any surf worth paddling out for. The first few days are a total write-off, with tiny, weak waves and onshore junk. We’re talking about a gap of nearly two weeks before we see anything that even hints at a proper wave. The only real blip on the radar comes near the end of the period, and even that is a long shot.

Let’s start with the early days. Thursday the 20th through to Wednesday the 27th of August is just a mess. We’ve got a constant barrage of onshore and cross-onshore winds from the south and southeast, with swell heights barely scraping 1 ft to 3 ft and periods around 5 to 8 seconds. That’s weak, short-period wind chop, not surf. The combined energy is pitiful, mostly in the teens to low 80s, and the reports are all saying “poor surf conditions.” The only morning that looks even slightly clean is Saturday the 22nd with a light offshore from the WNW, but the swell is just 3 ft from the south with a 5-second period – that’s a dribbly, weak wave that won’t hold up. It’s surfable, but barely.

From the 28th of August through the 3rd of September, we get a bit more consistency in the swell direction, but the size stays tiny – 1.0 ft to 2 ft – and the wind is still a problem. We do see the period creep up to 11 or 12 seconds on a few days, which is a tease, but the waves are just too small to do anything with. The energy numbers start to climb a bit, hitting 162 on the 1st of September, but that’s still only moderate energy, and it’s paired with a 10-second period and onshore winds, so it’s just messy.

Now, if you’re desperate and have been checking the charts, the one and only highlight – and I mean the *only* one – is the morning of Thursday the 4th of September. The swell is still only 3 ft from the southeast, but the period is a decent 10 seconds, and the wind is a clean offshore breeze from the north at 19 mph. The combined energy is 149 (moderate), and the report says “clean.” This is the first time in weeks we might see some proper, lined-up waves at Masonboro Inlet (beach/jetty). The swell direction from the southeast isn’t ideal for this spot – it prefers NE – but with a north wind, it’ll be clean and glassy. The swell is small, so it’s fine for beginners and intermediates. Keep in mind, this spot is inconsistent and can get crowded, so if you’re heading out, expect a few others with the same idea. This is a long-range call, so don’t hold your breath, but it’s the best we’ve got.

Other than that, the rest of the run is a bust. The 4th of September is a glimmer, but it’s a long way off. For now, the boards are staying in the van.

Rusty.

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