Publics Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s break down the next 16 days for Publics.

Right off the bat, the first week of September is a tough one. We’ve got surf, but the conditions are just not cooperating. A steady ENE wind of 25 to 25 mph is blowing, and while it’s cross-offshore, the wave quality is only marginal. The combined swell energy is big—like 1427 to 2719 (moderate to strong)—but the swell is coming from the ENE, which isn’t the sweet spot for this break. Publics prefers it from the SSE. So you’ve got size, but it’s not lining up. The best score in that first week is a 5 out of 10, and that’s on Monday the 7th morning. That’s your best early bet: an 8ft swell from the SW with a 15-second period, combined energy of 5340 (strong), and a moderate ESE breeze. It’s still cross-off, so it’ll be clean, but that’s a big swell. Over 8ft, that’s for experts only. Beginners, stay on the beach.

After that Monday, it gets rough. Tuesday the 8th is a total loss with onshore winds and poor conditions. Then from Wednesday the 9th through the 11th, the swell drops to under 3ft, and the wind is still blowing at 22 mph. The energy is weak (around 557 to 659). Not worth the paddle.

There’s a gap of a few days where the surf is just too small or too messy. Things pick up again slightly around the 12th and 13th, but the period is short (8 seconds) and the direction is still ENE. The scores are a 1, and the energy is only moderate (470 to 828). Not great.

The real standout of the whole 16-day window is shaping up to be Monday the 14th through Tuesday the 15th of September. On Monday the 14th morning, we’ve got a 6ft swell from the ENE with a 10-second period, and the combined energy is 1188 (moderate). The wind is a fresh 22 mph cross-off, so it’ll be clean. It’s not a perfect direction, but it’s the most consistent size we’ve seen. Tuesday the 15th looks similar—7ft to 7ft, ENE, 10-second period, and clean cross-off wind. The energy is 1355 to 1513 (moderate). Out of the entire run, this Monday-to-Tuesday stretch is the best on offer. The water temperature is about average for this time of year at Publics. Crowds are a given—it says “always”—so you’ll have company, but for a clean, chest-to-head-high wave with that much energy, it’s worth it.

After that, the swell fades again. From Wednesday the 16th onward, it’s back to knee-high, weak swells from the SSW with long periods (16-18 seconds). The energy is low (412 to 658), and the scores are mostly 1s. A long-period groundswell from the south can be tricky at a beach-and-reef setup like Publics—it might break too straight. Not much to chase there.

So, to sum it up: the first week is a bust except for the big Monday morning. The second week has a decent run Monday and Tuesday the 14th-15th. That’s your window. After that, the 16-day run fizzles out. Forecasts can change, but right now, it’s a patience game.

Rusty.

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