Oceanic Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. I’ll be straight with ya – it’s a pretty flat and frustrating stretch ahead for Oceanic Pier. We’ve got a solid 16-day window on the cards, but don’t go getting your hopes up too early. There’s a massive gap of nothing but weak, small junk for the first week and a half. The first actual glimmer of anything rideable doesn’t pop up until late in the game.

Looking at the whole period, it’s a story of waiting. From now through to around the 20th of September, it’s almost all “poor surf conditions” with combined energy barely cracking the 60 mark (64 at the highest early on, then dribbling down into the teens and 20s). Swell heights are tiny – mostly between 0.7 ft and 2 ft – and so weak you’d be bobbing around on a lake. The odd early morning sets up clean or glassy, like the 10th of September afternoon, but with next to no swell, you’re just looking at flat, pretty water.

The first real chance to get wet doesn’t come until Monday the 21st of September. The morning sees a tiny bump up to 3 ft from the ENE with a short 5-second period, combined energy of 70 – finally something you could call “surfable.” It’s clean with a light breeze, but it’s still very ordinary. That afternoon gets a touch bigger at 4 ft from the ENE, but a 25 km/h cross-off wind and the same weak period means it’s messy and not worth rushing for.

Tuesday the 22nd of September is where things get interesting, but only for the right crew. The morning sees 4 ft from the east with a 7-second period, and combined energy jumps to 165 – moderate energy, finally. But it’s cross-shore winds, so it’ll be chopped up. That afternoon turns onshore and bumpy, and it stays mediocre through Wednesday. Then on the last day of the run, Thursday the 24th of September, we get the biggest swell of the outlook: 5 ft from the ENE with a 9-second period. The combined energy surges to 458, which is strong stuff for this spot. Problem is, it’s a fresh 30 km/h cross-onshore wind, making for lumpy, blown-out conditions. That’s expert-only territory with the size and the chop – not the clean, welcoming ride most are after.

The standout, though I hate to say it, is really the morning of Monday the 21st of September. It’s the only window where the score even shows a 1 out of 10, meaning it’s the least ordinary. With 3 ft from the ENE, clean, and light winds, it’s your best shot at getting a few small, grovelly waves. But don’t expect any barrels – just something to get the wetsuit wet.

So, the outlook is grim. Almost two weeks of flatness, then a short burst of modest but messy swell. If you’re desperate, point the car at Oceanic Pier on Monday morning the 21st, or risk the lumpy 5 ft on the 24th if you’ve got the skill and don’t mind a beatdown. Otherwise, wait for the next change.

Rusty.

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