Pohoiki Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you. The next couple of weeks at Pohoiki are going to test your patience. We’ve got a long stretch of poor conditions ahead, but there’s a glimmer of something better if you’re willing to wait. Let’s break it down.

The truth is, for the next week and a half, the surf is mostly going to be a mess. We're looking at a lot of cross-onshore wind and choppy conditions. There’s some swell, but it’s not going to be any good to us until the wind sorts itself out.

Monday, September 7th, kicks off with a modest 7ft of ENE swell, but it's coming in at 12 seconds with a moderate cross-onshore breeze. It’s going to be choppy and messy. The wave energy is moderate (1159), but it's just not clean. That afternoon, it drops a touch but the conditions don't improve.

The next few days, Tuesday through to Sunday, September 13th, are much the same. Swell is there, but the wind stays cross or cross-on, keeping things choppy and uninviting. The energy drops off, sometimes into the weak zone (992, 657, 340), but the wind is the real killer. Things do clean up a bit on the morning of Sunday, September 13th, with a cross-offshore wind and a clean 3ft, but it's small and the energy is weak (257). It's a marginal one at best.

We have a run of days with no real recommendations through the middle of the week. It's not looking good.

Now, for the real news. The best of what’s on offer arrives after a week of waiting. From Friday, September 19th onwards, the swell starts to fill in properly. We're looking at the swell jumping up to 8ft on Saturday morning, and the energy really starts to pump (737, 857). This is where things get interesting for the more experienced crew. The size is getting up there. It’s pushing 8ft on Saturday afternoon and holding over 7ft into Sunday. This is definitely expert territory. The wind is still an issue, cross or cross-on, so don't expect perfection, but the swell is solid, with a period around 9 seconds. It will be textured but powerful.

The standout here is Saturday, September 19th, and the following Sunday, September 20th. The swell peaks around 8ft with a solid 9-second period, and it's coming from the E, which matches the optimum for this spot. The energy is strong at 857. But remember, this is a reef break, so when it’s this big, it’s only for those who know what they're doing. Water temp is 81°, which is right about normal for this time of year. Also, keep in mind that this is a fairly consistent break, and if the wind ever cleans up, it will be worth it.

The following Monday and Tuesday (Sept 21-22) still have some size, around 6ft - 6ft, and the energy drops to a moderate level, but it's still a better bet than anything we've seen in the first week. It will still be a bit ragged, though.

So, for the hardcore surfers, hold out for that swell at the end of the period. For everyone else, it might be a good time to find a new hobby for a week.

Signing off.

Rusty.

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