Rockpile Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, checking in from the coast. The next couple of weeks are looking like a real mixed bag. There’s not much to get excited about right now, but there are a few whispers of something better further out, so let's get into it.

First up, we're looking at Rockpile (South Bird Rock). It’s a consistent, exposed reef break that’s usually a good bet, and the water is sitting at a touch warmer than normal for this time of year at 70°. The issue is, we’re starting off in a bit of a flat spell. For the first few days, from Saturday the 22nd through to Monday the 24th, there's just not enough energy to make it worth paddling out. We're looking at tiny 2 ft to 2 ft swells from the SW, and the cross-onshore wind is going to mess it up. The combined energy is weak, with readings like 272 and 263, and it’s just poor surf. Honestly, you’d be better off doing something else.

The middle of the week, Tuesday the 25th, starts to show a pulse of life. Tuesday afternoon sees the swell bump up to 3 ft from the SSW, with a light cross-shore breeze. The combined energy climbs to 531 (moderate), and it’s still marginal, but it’s an improvement. This trend continues through the rest of the week. By Saturday the 29th, we’re looking at the first real standout of the period. Saturday morning and afternoon bring clean, 4 ft SW groundswell, with a period of 16 seconds. That’s long-period energy that will wrap nicely into this reef. The wind is light and onshore (SW 6 mph), but with a light breeze like that, it should be glassy enough to be fun. The combined energy is strong, hitting 707. It’s still rated as marginal, but that’s the best we’ve seen so far. This will be a fun size for beginners to intermediates, nothing too heavy.

Now, looking ahead to the first week of September, things get more interesting. Tuesday the 1st of September has a solid 5 ft SSW swell showing up in the afternoon, with light offshore wind. That’s the biggest we’ve seen, and the combined energy is strong at 869. Again, marginal rating, but the potential is there. Then, on Thursday the 3rd of September afternoon, we get another standout: 3 ft from the SW, but with a very long 19-second period. That’s proper groundswell, and the combined energy jumps to 779. The wind is a gentle cross-shore, so it should be reasonably clean. This long-period swell will be best on a reef like this, as it can be a bit tricky on beach breaks.

Friday the 4th of September continues the trend with consistent 4 ft SW swells, good periods around 17-18 seconds, and combined energy pushing into the 900s (strong). The wind is a bit more cross-onshore, but still light. The whole run from the 3rd to the 6th of September looks promising, with consistent moderate energy and long-period swells. The best of it is probably the Thursday afternoon session with that 19-second period. It’s not huge, but the quality should be there.

So, the pattern is clear: a slow start, a gradual build through the end of August, and then a better, more consistent run of surf into early September. Keep your eyes on the 29th of August and the 3rd of September for the best windows.

Rusty.

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