Shichirigahama Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, grab your waders if you’ve got ’em, because the next 16 days at Shichigahama are looking pretty grim, to be honest.

Look, I’m not gonna sugarcoat it – this stretch is a tough one for us paddle surfers. The swell is tiny for the most part, barely cracking 2ft to 2ft for the first two weeks, and the overall energy in the water is weak, sitting under 100 most days, with only a few touches of moderate energy around 151 or 154. The waves that do show up are just not holding any power, and the southeast to south winds are often onshore or cross, messing up what little shape there is. We’re looking at a big dry spell, with no real recommendations from Sunday, August 9th, all the way through to around Friday, August 22nd.

There is one faint glimmer of hope right at the tail end. On Saturday, August 22nd, in the afternoon, we finally see a bump. The swell jumps to 4ft from the south with a proper 12-second period, and the energy rockets up to 351 (very strong). That’s the best looking window we’ve got. Even better, the wind is gentle offshore from the northeast, which should clean things right up. This is probably the one standout, but it’s two weeks out, so treat it as promising but not a sure thing.

For that afternoon on the 22nd, I’d point you to the river mouth at Shichirigahama. It’s a bit inconsistent and only fairly exposed, but when that long-period south swell hits, the river mouth setup can focus it nicely. Just keep in mind, with that period over 11 seconds, it might wall up a bit at the beach and be better for the more experienced crew. The water temp is sitting at a normal 81°F for this time of year, so no shocks there.

Other than that, it’s a bleak run. Many mornings have offshore winds, but with waves under 2ft and short periods, there’s just no push. For the first two weeks, this is more interesting for the kiteboarders than anyone with a paddle.

Stay patient, keep an eye on that 22nd, and hopefully the models hold.

Rusty.

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