Rockpiles Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty, and I’m looking at the outlook for Rockpiles.

To be straight with you, the next 16 days have a lot of noise. The whole run is plagued by a persistent ENE cross-off wind that shows up as a fresh breeze most days, pushing between 22 and 31 mph at times. That’s our biggest problem – it’s never fully offshore from the optimum SSE direction, so the surf is always fighting that ripping wind. For a reef break like this, that cross-off angle can make things bumpy and hard to ride.

The best bet in the whole window is the first bit of surf we get. Starting on Thursday morning, the 13th of August, we’ve got a clean 3 ft swell rolling in from the south with a very long 16-second period. That long-period groundswell carries a lot of energy (847), which is moderate but punchy. Water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing crazy. The catch? That ENE wind is still up at 22 mph, so it’s cross-off, not glassy. It’s marginal due to wind and tide, but this is the cleanest and most rideable the wave is going to be for a while. For a bigger day, Friday afternoon the 14th shows a 7 ft ENE swell but with that onshore angle and short 8-second period, it turns into a messy, choppy mess – not our friend.

If you’re a strong paddler and you don't mind a battle with the wind, those first couple of days might be worth a look. But honestly, after that, the whole middle two weeks are a write-off: either too much wind with waves over 8 ft that are only for experts (like the 12 ft on Saturday the 15th), or tiny, weak swells under 3 ft with poor conditions. There’s a long gap with no solid recommendations as the swell tries to switch directions but never lines up with the wind.

The only other flicker of hope comes right at the end of the forecast, on Friday morning the 28th of August. It’s still a ways out, so don’t hold your breath, but we see a 7 ft ENE swell with a short period of 7 seconds and moderate energy (634). The wind is still cross-off at 22 mph, so it’s a marginal call at best. Down the line, that’s the only other session that might produce a half-decent wave, but it’s a long wait and it’s far from guaranteed.

Bottom line: Thursday morning the 13th is your standout. The south swell has the quality, the period is there, and the surf is clean, even if the wind is strong. After that, it’s a long, dry spell with mostly poor surf. For the second week, don’t book your travel – it’s all small, windy, and not worth the paddle out.

Stay tuned, things change. I’ll be here if they do.

Rusty

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