Pohoiki Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s on the menu for the next couple of weeks. We’ve only got one spot in the running, and it’s a bit of a mixed bag.

The overall pattern is a long stretch of marginal conditions with a few fleeting windows of cleaner surf. The water is sitting at 81°, which is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The first real chance to get wet doesn’t come until the weekend. Saturday morning, September 5th at Pohoiki sees a 7 ft swell from the ENE, with a 13-second period. The wind is a gentle cross-shore, and while the wave comment calls it marginal, the combined energy is a solid 1788 (moderate-high energy). It’s a bit on the bigger side, so not one for the groms, but for the experienced crew, it’s the best on offer in the early run. The break is a fairly consistent reef that can get busy sometimes, so expect a few heads out.

Things get a bit messy after that. The wind picks up through Monday and Tuesday, with a fresh breeze creating lumpy cross-chop, and the swell drops off. The middle of the week is a write-off—poor surf quality and choppy conditions.

Now, the real standout comes in the second week. Mark your calendars for Saturday, September 12th, and Sunday, September 13th. The wind swings to the north, giving us a clean, cross-off breeze. On Saturday morning, we’ve got a 6 ft swell from the ENE with a short 8-second period, but the energy is still moderate (746). The afternoon picks up a bit more punch from the ESE at 6 ft and a 10-second period, with a combined energy of 1326 (moderate). The waves are clean, and the wind is glassy. Sunday morning holds a 6 ft swell from the east, 9-second period, with nice clean conditions again. The afternoon swell bumps up to 8 ft from the ENE, though the period stays short at 9 seconds, so it’ll be a bit walled-off for the beach, but Pohoiki being a reef can handle it. This is the best stretch of the outlook—clean, decent energy, and a solid chance for some good waves.

After that, the wind turns onshore again from the 14th, and the quality drops off. The 15th and 16th see some smaller but longer-period swell (12 seconds) from the ESE, but with cross-onshore winds and fairly choppy conditions, it’s a tough sell. The early sessions on the 17th and 18th have light winds and small but clean lines, but the swell is down to 5 ft to 6 ft, so it’s more of a longboarder’s game.

Overall, if you’re keen, the 12th and 13th of September are your best bet. The rest of the window is a waiting game. Stay patient, and the clean stuff will come. This is Rusty, signing off.

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