Onjuku Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, and I'm lookin' at the outlook for our local spot, Onjuku. The water is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year, sitting at 82°, which is a nice bonus.

Starting off, we're in a bit of a slump. The first few days, from Sunday the 30th through Monday the 31st, are pretty weak. There’s knee-high dribble at best, with messy conditions and onshore breezes. Honestly, you’d be doin' more paddlin' than surfin'. It’s a little frustratin', but we know how it goes.

Tuesday the 1st of September is where things start to perk up. The morning session is the real standout of this first week. We’ve got a clean, chest-high long-period groundswell comin' out of the ESE, and a moderate offshore wind from the NNE tidyin' everything up. The combined energy is up at a solid moderate 282. It's not pumpin', but it's got shape and it’s clean. Just be aware it's an inconsistent break, so you'll be waitin' for the sets, but it'll be worth it.

Wednesday mornin' the 2nd is another gem. The wind goes glassy, and we’ve got a clean 3 ft wave from the ESE. It's a proper session for the logs or a mid-length. The swell energy is still moderate at 222. Savor that mornin' because the afternoon gets messy with a southerly onshore that blows it out.

From Thursday the 3rd through most of Friday the 4th, it turns pretty poor again. Strong winds and buildin' chop make for a rough go. The combined energy drops right back down.

Now, lookin' at the second week, there’s a big pulse of energy arrivin'. Sunday the 6th of September sees some serious size on the charts, with the combined energy spikin' way up into the thousands (1250). We’re lookin' at 5 ft to 5 ft of long-period swell from the SSE, but it's heavily cross-offshore and the conditions are described as marginal. The period is 14-15 seconds, which is a very long groundswell. For a beach break like Onjuku, that long period can make it wall up and close out fast. It’s goin' to be powerful, lumpy, and more for the experienced crew if they can find a bank. Not a beginner's day at all.

This big, messy energy carries through the week to the 10th and 11th of September, with the swell stayin' over 5 ft and the winds messy, often cross or cross-on. It’s turbulent, and the quality is poor for a clean surf.

The true standout of this whole 16-day window is absolutely Tuesday the 1st of September morning at Onjuku. The combination of clean, offshore wind and a reasonable long-period groundswell from a good direction makes it the pick of the bunch. The Wednesday morning glass-off is the runner-up.

Overall, don't get too excited about the massive swell in week two. It looks powerful but messy. For clean, fun waves, your best bet is that window at the start of September.

Stay patient, and keep an eye on the forecast.
Rusty.

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