Publics Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's break down what we've got on the cards for Publics over the next couple of weeks. It's a bit of a mixed bag, with a long stretch of average conditions before a late-flurry of promising, long-period groundswell rolls in. I'll take you through it day by day.

Right off the bat, from Wednesday July 8th right through the weekend of July 12th, it's a tough watch. We've got a steady, cranking easterly wind howling at 22 to 25 mph, blowing straight across the face of the waves. That's cross-offshore, which sounds good on paper, but with swell heights sitting between 4.9 ft and 7.5 ft and a short, weak period of just 7 to 8 seconds, it's a messy, drifty setup. The wave energy is moderate, reading between 446 and 858, but with that constant breeze, it’s going to be scrappy. For a wave that’s a mix of beach and reef, with the crowds "always" there, it’s not worth the fight. Honestly, this stretch looks more interesting for the kite crowd than us paddle surfers.

Moving into the week of July 13th, things don't improve much. From Monday the 13th through to Saturday the 18th, we're still stuck in that easterly wind pattern at 19 to 25 mph. The swell dips a little, hanging around 4.9 ft to 6.2 ft, but it's still that short-period, weak energy stuff. The energy numbers hover in the moderate range (354 to 749). It's "marginal" at best. The waves will be there, but they'll be bumpy and hard to enjoy. We get a slight reprieve on Sunday July 19th, with the wind dropping to 16-19 mph, but the swell is still only 5.2 ft and weak. It's not a standout, just a slight improvement in wind.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. On Monday July 20th, the whole pattern shifts. We see a swell from the south, with a much longer period of 15 seconds. The height is small, just 3.6 ft, but that long period means proper groundswell energy. The combined energy is strong, hitting around 878. The catch? The wind is still from the ENE at 19 mph, which is a cross-off for a south swell.

Then, the real highlight rolls in. On Tuesday July 21st, we get a very long-period easterly groundswell, with a period of 18 seconds. The wave height is only 2.6 ft, but the energy is very strong, reading at 1185. The wind eases slightly to 16-19 mph, still cross-off but more manageable. This is a proper, clean line of swell. Because of that very long period, it might break a bit straight on the beach, but the clean conditions will make it special for those who know the right bank. Wednesday July 22nd follows up with a similar setup: a 3.6 ft swell from the east with a very long period of 15-16 seconds and energy reading of 1266. That is the best energy of the whole period. These two days, July 21st and 22nd, are the true standouts. It’s a long-range call, so keep an eye on it, but this is the window to circle on your calendar. It’ll be clean, with that deep, powerful push. For a break that’s "fairly consistent," this late burst of quality is a gift.

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