Sandy Hook/The Cove Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let me tell ya, it’s a tough one out there for the next couple of weeks. We’re looking at a long dry spell with barely a ripple to get excited about. The first bit of surfable swell doesn't show up until Wednesday, July 8th, so we’ve got a solid stretch of flat, tiny conditions to get through before then.

Let’s start with the spot we’ve got: Sandy Hook/The Cove. It’s a beach and reef setup, fairly exposed to swell, and the optimum direction is ESE. But for the first week, it’s just sad. Water temp is sitting at 73°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year – that anomaly of 4° is notable, so you’ll be sweating in your wetsuit if you bother to paddle out.

From Thursday, July 2nd, through Tuesday, July 7th, we’re talking 0.3 ft to 2 ft junk. The wind is mostly cross-on or onshore, and the combined swell energy is pitiful – like 13 (weak energy) on the 2nd, barely creeping up to 33 by the afternoon of the 6th. Periods are short, 4-9 seconds, so it’s all windswell mush. Total write-off.

Now, on Wednesday, July 8th, things wake up a little. Morning sees 4 ft swell from E at 6 seconds, with combined energy jumping to 144 – that’s moderate wave energy. Wind is light and onshore from ENE, but it’s not clean. By the afternoon, it’s 4 ft from E at 6 seconds, energy at 151, and the wind swings SSE at 6 mph, giving us a light cross-shore. Still, the surf quality comment says “poor surf conditions” for every single day here, so don’t get your hopes up. This spot is rarely breaking with any consistency.

For the rest of the run, from July 9th to July 17th, it’s back to tiny stuff – mostly 0.7 ft to 2 ft, with short periods, and the energy rarely breaks 30. There’s a moment on Friday, July 10th afternoon with a 19 mph offshore from SW and 3 ft at 4 seconds, but that’s a short period wind swell with fresh offshore wind – clean, but tiny and weak. Not worth driving for.

Honestly, there’s no standout here. The only window where you might get something rideable is Wednesday, July 8th, with that 4-4 ft – but the onshore wind kills it, and the period is too short for any real shape. If you’re a beginner, the size is fine, but the quality is rubbish. For experts, it’s just frustrating.

Given the persistent tiny swell and poor conditions, this setup actually looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing on most days – especially when the wind picks up from the south or east.

Bottom line: put your board away for now. It tends not to stay this flat forever, but the next two weeks are a write-off. Stay tuned, forecasts can change, but right now, there’s nothing to chase.

Rusty.

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