Publics Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s get real about the next couple of weeks at Publics. This is a beach and reef setup, pretty exposed to the swell, so it’s a bit of a tease. The water is sitting at 79°, which is about average for this time of year, so nothing wild there.

The first decent look we get is Tuesday afternoon, July 14th. It’s not a standout, but it’s the first real surfable window. We’re looking at a small 3ft swell from the SSW, with a long period of 14 seconds – that’s groundswell, so it’ll have some shape but those long gaps between sets. The wind is cross-off at 16 mph, so it’ll be clean but not glassy. The combined energy is moderate (274), so it’s not pumping. It’s a beginner-friendly size, but fair warning: crowds are always a thing here.

Wednesday afternoon, July 15th, is a slightly better call. Same size, 2ft from the SW, period 14 seconds, but the wind drops to a light 6 mph cross-off. That’s going to be clean, clean, clean. The combined energy bumps up to 282 (moderate). The score is a 2, but honestly, for the size, that’s the best we’re getting for a while. It’s small, but it’ll be pretty.

Then we hit a rough patch. From Thursday the 16th all the way through to Sunday the 20th of July, the surf is a write-off. The wind is howling from the ENE at 16 to 22 mph, and while the waves are clean, they’re mostly small and messy. The swell jumps to 5ft on Sunday the 19th, but the period is a short 8 seconds, and the combined energy (459) is moderate. The wind is way too strong for a fun paddle. Honestly, with that wind and moderate energy, it looks more interesting for kite surfing right now.

Monday morning, July 20th, things start to shift. The swell drops back to 3ft from the S, but the period is a proper 16 seconds. The combined energy is now strong (552). The wind is still a moderate 16 mph cross-off, which keeps it clean. It’s a marginal call, but the energy is there. The same goes for Tuesday the 21st and Wednesday the 22nd – small wave heights (3ft), but the period stays long (14-13 seconds) and the energy stays strong (599, 567). The wind is strong though, so it's a persistent cross-off breeze.

The real kicker, the one that might be worth waiting for, is Saturday, July 25th. We’ve got a 7ft swell from the ENE, but the period is only 7 seconds – short period windswell, so it’ll be a bit lumpy. The combined energy is very strong (916). That’s a lot of water moving. This is only for experts, and given the short period, it’s going to be a bit of a washing machine at this beach. The wind is still cross-off at 16-19 mph.

Sunday, July 26th, is another interesting day. The swell drops to 3ft from the SSW, but the period is a very long 18 seconds. The combined energy hits a massive 1156 (very strong). That’s proper groundswell energy, but for a small wave. The long period means it’ll break straight and fast, so it’s not ideal for the beach break. That long period is better for a point or reef, but here, it’s a caveat. It’s a stand-out for energy, but the size and setup are a tricky combo.

The final days, July 28th and 29th, fade out. The swell hangs around 5ft to 4ft, but the period drops to 7 seconds, and the energy drops back to moderate (588 to 416). The wind is still up, so it’s a poor surf call.

So, the best of the bunch? If you want something clean and small, Wednesday afternoon, July 15th is your pick. If you want the biggest energy day, Saturday, July 25th is the one, but it’s expert-only and messy. The long-range option on Sunday, July 26th has that massive energy but is a tricky one to read.

Rusty.

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