Sakawa River Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let's get into it. This is Rusty, and I'm looking at what we've got on offer. For the Sakawa River, it's a bit of a story of two halves. A long, flat, frustrating wait, and then a big, powerful pulse to finish things off.

We're looking at a pretty grim start. From Saturday the 15th of August right through to Friday the 22nd, it's a write-off. The combined swell energy is weak, barely scraping into the triple digits at times, with most days seeing nothing worth paddling out for. You're looking at a week with no real surf on the cards. It's a frustrating stretch, no doubt.

The first real glimmer of hope comes on Saturday the 22nd of August. There’s a small, glassy morning with a 2ft swell from the SSW. The energy is still just moderate (146), but the clean conditions will at least get you wet. It’s surfable, but nothing to write home about. This spot is fairly consistent, so this kind of dry spell isn't the norm, and it feels like the ocean is just saving up for something.

And boy, does it save up. The real story, the one that has my attention, kicks off on Monday the 24th of August. The swell from the SE jumps to a solid 8ft with a very long 17-second period. The combined energy rockets to 3800 – that's serious power. It's a bit messy in the morning with a cross-onshore wind, but by Monday afternoon, the wind goes glassy, and the swell pushes to 10ft. The report calls it excellent for experienced surfers, and I'd agree. Sakawa River is a river mouth, and a long-period SE groundswell like this is what it's built for. This is the standout.

Tuesday the 25th and Wednesday the 26th keep that big 10ft+ swell running, but the wind gets a bit more messy. The conditions are there for strong surfers who know the spot. The water temp is sitting at 82°F, which is about average for this time of year, so no shock when you hit the water.

Thursday the 27th of August is interesting, but for a different reason. That morning, the swell pumps up to 12ft from the SE. The combined energy is over 4000, and the wind is a light cross-shore from the SSW. It sounds epic, but the guidance flat out says the swell is predicted to be too big for this break. That's a serious caveat. For the vast majority of us, that’s a day to watch from the bank. The afternoon drops back down to a cleaner 6ft from the ESE, which is more manageable but not the standout moment.

After that big pulse, things fade out in the final days of August into some small, long-period pulses that are surfable but ordinary. Saturday the 29th has a glassy morning with a 3ft, 13-second swell, but the energy is low. It’s a clean, small day for a longboard.

So, to wrap it up: you've got a long week of waiting. The one true standout, the reason to keep your boards ready, is the afternoon of Monday the 24th of August. That's the session the river mouth is waiting for. Get on it.

- Rusty

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