Pohoiki Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for our little slice of paradise.

Alright, we’re looking at a pretty slow start for the next week or so, but don't you worry, there’s a bit of a pulse building for the end of the month. The water temperature is sitting at a warm 80°, which is about average for this time of year, so you won't need a thick suit.

The early part of the week is looking pretty marginal. On Monday the 20th, we’ve got some knee to waist high swell coming in from the south, but it’s got a long 16-second period. The problem is the wind is a bit of a mess, with a cross-shore breeze that’s creating a slight chop. The combined energy is moderate (717), but the conditions are just not clean enough to get excited about. The afternoon only gets worse with onshore winds, so that’s a write-off.

Tuesday and Wednesday are more of the same story. The swell direction shifts to the east, but we’re stuck with cross-onshore winds that keep the surface bumpy. The energy is dropping off a bit into the moderate range (551-772). It’s frustrating, but not unusual for this time of year.

By Thursday the 23rd, the swell picks up a bit to around 5ft, but the period drops to a short 7 seconds. That’s gonna be a choppy, weak mess, especially with the moderate onshore wind. The wave energy is still moderate (351-491), but it’s just not surfable. This stretch of poor conditions looks set to continue right through the end of the week and into the weekend.

Now, hold on to your board shorts. The real story starts to unfold on Monday the 27th of July. We’re seeing a solid pulse of east swell building to 8ft with a nice 14-second period. The wind swings to the north, giving us a cross-offshore breeze, and the water gets clean. The combined energy jumps to a very strong 2836. This is the standout window. The break is Pohoiki, a reef setup that loves a long period east swell. This is not for beginners though; at 8ft, it’s getting into the expert zone. The south-east swell direction is a great match for the break. Be aware it can get a little crowded here sometimes.

Tuesday the 28th is still good, with the swell easing slightly to 7ft, but still holding good energy (1776) and clean cross-offshore winds. Another solid day for the more experienced crew.

Wednesday the 29th is a bit of a drop-off as the swell backs down to 6ft and the wind goes a bit more cross-shore. Still a fun option, but the previous two days are the real winners.

After that, from the 30th of July onward, the swell drops right off and the winds get messy again. The combined energy falls back to weak levels (180-463), and it’s back to a poor outlook. The forecast looks like a long blank run after that Tuesday the 4th of August, with no decent surf on the cards.

So, the call is: Monday the 27th and Tuesday the 28th of July are your best bets. Get out to Pohoiki for the biggest, cleanest swell of the period. It’s going to be a proper session for the experts.

Rusty.

Read more