Piccaninnie Ponds Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, folks, Rusty here. We’re going to have a blinder over the next couple of weeks, but this one is definitely not for the faint-hearted. The first proper surf on offer is from Thursday morning, August 6th, at Piccaninnie Ponds. This is a deep-water, advanced-only spot, and it’s playing by its own rules.

The window opens Thursday morning with a serious 6 ft SW groundswell, period a solid 16 seconds. The combined energy is pumping hard at 1489 (moderate), and we’ve got a clean, moderate offshore wind from the NNW. That’s a solid start for experienced surfers, but don’t get too excited just yet. The afternoon session is a write-off with a cross-on breeze and tricky conditions.

Now, Friday morning, August 7th, is where things get seriously big. We’re talking a 10 ft SW swell with a 15-second period. The wind is NNE and light, so it’s offshore and clean. The energy is tearing through at 5208 (strong). This is a very big wave for this break, and the forecast is clear that it’s too big for the average punter. Only for the experts, and even then, you’ll need your wits about you. The Friday afternoon drops a touch to 8 ft, still with a clean offshore, but the energy is still massive at 4138 (strong).

Saturday morning, August 8th, holds at 8 ft SW with a 16-second period, and a moderate offshore from the north. The energy is 3241 (strong). But the conditions are noted as marginal, so it might be a bit of a handful despite the clean wind. The crowds here are described as “sometimes,” so you might have a few other hardcore souls out there.

The real standout, the one that’s worth the wait, is the run from Sunday, August 9th, through to the end of the first week. Sunday morning gives us a cleaner 6 ft SW swell, period 13 seconds, and a moderate offshore. Energy is 1845 (moderate). The wave comment is “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers,” which is rare.

But the absolute king of the whole period is Monday, August 10th. We’ve got a 13 ft SW groundswell, period 18 seconds, and a cross-offshore wind from the WNW. The energy is apocalyptic at 10279 (very strong). The forecast says “wind and tide favorable, but the swell is predicted to be too big for this break.” This is not a day for the faint-hearted. It’s a true test of skill and nerve. If you’re one of the elite, this is the best the 16 days will offer. The same goes for Tuesday, August 11th, with a 10 ft WSW swell, but the wind is a fresh offshore, so it’s clean.

The second week kicks off with a serious pulse. Wednesday, August 12th, shows a 16 ft SW swell, period 17 seconds, and energy going through the roof at 14796 (very strong). The wind is a cross-shore, but the forecast says it’s too big. Thursday and Friday, August 13th and 14th, are the same story: 15 ft to 16 ft SW groundswells, long periods, and massive energy. The wind is light and cross-offshore, so it will be clean, but it’s completely out of the comfort zone for anyone but the top-tier big-wave surfers.

The water temperature is about average for the time of year, no major anomalies to report.

The real sweet spot for the slightly less extreme surfer comes on Sunday, August 16th, in the morning. The swell drops to 10 ft SW, period 15 seconds, and the wind is dead calm – glassy conditions. Energy is at 4121 (strong). The forecast still says it’s too big for the break, but that glassy wind is a dream. The afternoon is onshore and messy.

Then, from Monday, August 17th, we finally get a run of “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers” with the swell settling into a more manageable 6 ft to 7 ft range. The wind is offshore or glassy, and the periods are still long (13-14 seconds). This is the most accessible window for the advanced crowd. Tuesday afternoon, August 18th, is particularly nice with a 4 ft SW groundswell, period an incredible 19 seconds, and a gentle offshore. The energy is 1650 (moderate). That’s a long-period, clean, and relatively small swell that will be a dream.

The outlook ends on Friday, August 21st, with a 15 ft SW swell, period 12 seconds, and a moderate offshore wind. Energy is 5312 (strong) – but again, it’s too big for the break.

To sum it up: the first week is for the big-wave specialists. The absolute standout is Monday, August 10th, with that 13 ft, 18-second period monster. The second week, from Monday, August 17th, offers the best chance for advanced surfers to get clean, manageable waves with good winds. The gaps? There are no gaps – the surf is non-stop, just varying in size and intensity. This is a classic run of heavy, consistent SW groundswell.

Rusty.

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