Shichirigahama Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here with the full rundown for the local stretch. We're looking at a pretty quiet start to the forecast window, so don't be in a rush to grab your board. Things are going to be flat and small for a good week, but if you're patient, there's a solid pulse of groundswell lined up for the second week that could be well worth the wait.

Let's break it down.

The first week kicks off with barely a ripple. Tuesday the 1st through to Monday the 7th of September is all about small, weak surf. Heights are a measly 1 ft to 2 ft with short-period swell (7 to 10 seconds) and the combined energy is low, sitting between 20 and 128 units. It's basically a lake. The odd morning shows clean conditions with light offshore winds, but there's just not enough wave height to ride. The wind gets a bit frisky on the weekend, but it's all offshore, so it's clean but gutless. For the first week, you're better off finding another hobby.

We finally get a glimpse of something on Tuesday the 8th of September. The swell starts to build, hitting 3 ft to 5 ft by the afternoon, with a longer period of 10 to 12 seconds. The energy jumps up to 639 units, which is still moderate but feels like a proper pulse. The wind is strong offshore, so it'll be clean but a bit tricky to paddle into. The rating is still a 1 out of 10, so it's right on the edge.

Now, the standout window is Wednesday the 9th and Thursday the 10th of September. This is the one to circle on the calendar. Wednesday morning sees the swell at 6 ft (SSE) with a 14-second period (strong groundswell) and energy ramping up to 1421 units. The wind is light and cross-shore, so the waves will have some shape. Wednesday afternoon gets even better with 8 ft surf, a 14-second period, and a whopping 2064 units of energy. The wind drops to near glassy, offering clean conditions. Thursday morning is the peak for size: 10 ft (SSE) with a 13-second period and intense energy of 3354 units. The wind is a gentle offshore from the NNE, making for some super clean, powerful lines. This is excellent surf, but it's big. At 10 ft, it's expert territory only. The long-period groundswell will be best handled at Shichirigahama, which is a river mouth – it should focus that energy into nice shaped waves. Keep in mind the crowd factor here; it's listed as "sometimes" busy, so respect the lineup.

The water temperature is 83°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for the time of year, so you can leave the wettie at home.

After that peak, the swell backs off. Friday the 11th and Saturday the 12th of September get messy with onshore winds and choppy conditions. The swell drops to 4 ft to 6 ft, but the quality goes with the wind. Sunday the 13th and Monday the 14th of September see a return to smaller, clean offshore conditions, but the swell is down to 3 ft or less, so it's just small and fun for the longboard.

The very end of the window, Tuesday the 15th and Wednesday the 16th of September, shows another big pulse. Tuesday afternoon looks bumpy with 12 ft and onshore wind, but Wednesday morning the 16th is very promising. The swell is 8 ft (S) with an 11-second period, and the wind is glassy – a rare combination. That will be a great session if the forecast holds, though it's still about a week and a half away, so keep an eye on it.

For the best on offer, no doubt about it: Wednesday the 9th and Thursday the 10th of September at Shichirigahama. The conditions are clean, the swell is strong and from the optimum direction (SSE), and the energy is through the roof. It's a big swell, so it's for the experienced crew, but it's the real deal.

Rusty.

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