Rivermouth Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, and I’ve got the outlook for Rivermouth. Now, you might be looking at the calendar and thinking, “Where’s the swell?” – well, the next couple of days are a write-off. Friday starts with a lumpy, cross-on mess straight from the SSE – 10 ft it says, but with that 12 mph wind and 10-second period, it’s all chop and no shape. That combined energy is a hefty 1780 (strong to very strong), but it’s just raw power with nowhere clean to go. Friday afternoon and into Saturday aren’t worth suiting up for either. The water temp is sitting at 66°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so you’ll feel that bite if you’re dumb enough to paddle out into this slop.

The first real glimmer comes on Monday morning, September 7th. The wind swings to a NE cross-shore at 19 mph, which is fresh, but there’s a 7 ft groundswell rolling in from the S at 15 seconds. That combined energy is 1746 (strong). It’s still lumpy sets with that fresh breeze, but it’s the first time the period has stretched out enough to hint at some proper push. Not a standout, but it’s the first thing that isn’t total garbage.

Keep an eye on Thursday morning, September 10th. The wind goes light out of the SSW, a gentle cross-shore at just 9 mph. The swell drops to a more manageable 4 ft from the E with a 9-second period, and the combined energy is 371 (moderate). The report says “gentle cross-shore with slight cross-chop,” which for this stretch is about as clean as it gets. It won’t be pumping, but if you’re a beginner (and Rivermouth is best for beginners, very consistent, and exposed to the S swell), this is a window to get wet without getting thumped.

Now, if you’re willing to bookmark the calendar, the real action builds toward the end of the run. Sunday, September 13th – the morning has a light SSW cross-shore at 6 mph, pushing a 4 ft SSW groundswell with a 14-second period. Combined energy is 1037 (strong). That report calls it “light cross-shore with small crossing wind ripples,” which means it’ll be glassy and clean. For a wave that holds its shape with that long period, Rivermouth will handle it well. This is a proper pick for a relaxed session.

But the true standout? You’ve gotta lock in Tuesday, September 15th. The morning kicks off with an 8 ft groundswell from the S at 13 seconds, and the combined energy jumps to 2332 (very strong). The wind is onshore from the ESE at 9 mph, so not perfect. But then the afternoon shifts: the wind backs off to an easterly at just 6 mph, still cross-on but light. That 8 ft S swell holds at 12 seconds, energy at 2065. The report says “light cross-onshore with small wind ripples.” For a solid 8 ft wave, that’s about as good as it gets at Rivermouth. That’s a session for the experienced crew only – over 8 ft is expert territory – so the beginners sit this one out. Crowds are “sometimes” at Rivermouth, and on a Tuesday with that much swell, you might snag a few clean ones to yourself.

Then Thursday afternoon, September 17th is a sneaky late dark horse. The wind goes cross-off from the NNE at 6 mph, and the wave comment says “expect very good surf conditions.” It’s a smaller 2 ft SSW groundswell with a 19-second period (very long period), combined energy 653 (moderate). That clean, offshore-ish wind on a river mouth with that long period will produce some perfect little lines at the take-off zone. Rare for the place to get that clean.

As for the second week, don’t get too attached to the long-range calls – things can wobble. The 18th and 19th of September show another pulse around 8 ft to 8 ft from the SSW/S, with solid periods, but the wind is messy cross-off or onshore again. The 18th morning shows a clean wind (SW 16 mph cross-off) with 8 ft at 15 seconds and energy at 2298 – that could be a beast if the axis holds. But it’s a gamble.

Overall, there’s a stretch of a few days in the middle with no real options, but the 13th, 15th, and that sneaky 17th afternoon are the ones to circle. Rivermouth doesn’t often give you a week of clean windows, so when it does, you go.

Rusty.

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