Rockpile Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.

We’re looking at Rockpile and it’s a tricky run ahead. The water is sitting at 73°F right now, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year – a solid 6°F above average. That’s a real standout, something you don’t feel every day.

The first real chance to get wet doesn’t come until Saturday morning, the 18th of July. Even then, it’s a tough one. We’ve got a 3ft swell rolling in from the SW with a very long 18-second period, carrying moderate wave energy (459). However, the wind is onshore and it’s clean, but the conditions are reported as poor. It’s a reef break, and with that long period, the sets will be drawn out, but the wind is just not playing ball. The afternoon cleans up a touch, but stays cross-onshore.

Sunday the 19th through the following week is a real grind. Swell sizes stay small, mostly between 3ft and 4ft from the SW, with periods dropping from 17 seconds down to 13 seconds. The wind just won’t get out of the cross-onshore or onshore quadrant. Wave energy stays moderate (between 369 and 826), but the commentary is all “marginal” or “poor.” It’s the kind of week where you’re better off checking the wind more than the swell.

The first real standout in the whole run is shaping up for Friday the 31st of July. This is the one to circle. We’re looking at a morning swell of 5ft from the SSW, and by the afternoon it bumps up to 6ft from the same direction. The period is a solid 15 seconds in the morning, dropping to 14 seconds in the afternoon, and the combined energy jumps to 1454, which is strong. The wind is light onshore in the morning and light cross-onshore in the afternoon. For a reef break like Rockpile, that’s about as good as it’s going to get in this window. This is a legit long-period groundswell, and at 6ft, it’s getting into expert territory, but the shape should be there.

The following Saturday, 1st of August, still has some size – 5ft in the morning and 5ft in the afternoon – but the period drops to 12 seconds and the wind gets a bit stronger and choppier. It’s a downgrade. After that, it fades fast into tiny, wind-affected mush by Sunday, 2nd of August.

Overall, the best bet is the afternoon of Friday the 31st of July. That’s the one where the swell peaks, the energy is high, and the wind is manageable. Expect crowds at Rockpile, it’s often busy. If you can wait, that’s your day.

- Rusty

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