Shichirigahama Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into it for the local stretch.

Right off the bat, I gotta be honest with you – the next couple of weeks look pretty flat. We’re looking at a real dry spell to start, with nothing worth paddling out for from now until the 6th of September. The waves are tiny, weak, and the wind is either cross-off or straight offshore but the swell just isn’t there. The water’s a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, sitting at 28°, so it’s a nice bath, but that’s about all the excitement you’ll get.

Things finally get a bit of a pulse around Monday the 7th. A solid south swell pushes in, with wave heights hitting 7ft on the morning and even 10ft in the afternoon. There’s a lot of energy in the water – the combined energy reading is 933 (moderate) in the morning and jumps to 1889 (strong) by the afternoon. But here’s the catch: the wind is onshore and messy, and the wave comment flags it as marginal at best. The swell period is 10 seconds, so it’s a mid-period groundswell, but with that wind, it’s gonna be a washing machine. For the experienced crew, the morning might offer a few tough but rideable ones at Shichirigahama (river) – it’s a fairly exposed spot that likes a SSW swell, but the onshore wind will chop it up. This is not a beginner’s session; 7ft is pushing it for learners. The afternoon with 10ft is only for experts, and even then, the wind is a real downer.

The 8th of September sees the swell drop a little, with 5ft in the morning and 4ft in the afternoon. The wind is nicer – light cross-shore in the morning and a clean cross-off in the afternoon. The combined energy is still moderate (653 in the morning, 319 in the afternoon). The morning at Shichirigahama might be your best bet, but it’s still only a marginal call. The swell is from the south, which is right in the sweet spot for this break, but the wave quality is just okay.

The 9th stays similar, with 7ft waves and moderate energy (773). The wind is light cross-on in the morning and light cross-shore in the afternoon, but the rain and marginal surf quality are off-putting. It’s surfable, but nothing to get excited about.

From the 10th of September onwards, the whole show fades fast. We’re back to tiny waves under 3ft, with offshore winds but simply no power. The swell dies and the energy readings drop to double digits and even single digits. The 18th of September afternoon offers a tiny 2ft wave with glassy conditions, but it’s from the east with a period of only 4 seconds – that’s windswell, and it’s barely a ripple.

So, the one standout in this entire 16-day window is the morning of Monday the 7th of September at Shichirigahama. It’s got the most size and energy, the direction is right, and the wind is the least bad of the bigger days. But you gotta be honest about the crowds – this spot gets crowded sometimes, and the onshore wind will make it a battle. For the brave, there’s a window. For everyone else, keep your board in the car and wait for the next proper swell.

Rusty.

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