Shida Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. We’ve got a solid run of swell coming into Shida, but it’s a mixed bag. The first few days have plenty of size, but the wind’s going to be a problem for most of it, and the standout window is going to be tight.

The real action kicks off now with a big pulse of southerly swell. Monday morning, September 7th, we’re looking at a meaty 8ft swell from the south with a 9-second period, but it’s blowing a 22 mph southerly offshore. That’s clean, but the swell energy is pumping hard at (1504). The afternoon bumps up to 10ft from the south, same wind, and that’s just too big for this spot. It’s expert only territory anyway.

Tuesday morning, September 8th, the swell drops to 7ft from the south, but the wind swings to a 12 mph cross-offshore. Still clean, but the energy is still significant at (802). The afternoon is where we get a real standout: Tuesday afternoon, same 7ft south swell, but the wind drops to a 6 mph cross-offshore. That’s a light breeze, clean face, and the energy is pumping at (1295). This is the best of the first week—great size, clean conditions, and it’s only for experienced surfers. Crowds are often a thing here, so expect company.

Wednesday, September 9th, the swell holds around 7ft to 8ft from the south, but a fresh 19 mph cross-offshore wind spoils it. The morning’s a write-off with only marginal conditions, and the afternoon is messy too. Energy is moderate to strong (714 to 1083), but the wind’s too strong.

From Thursday, September 10th, it all goes pear-shaped. The swell drops off hard, wind goes onshore, and we get a run of poor surf that lasts over a week. We’re talking tiny, weak waves—2ft to 3ft—with cross-onshore winds and choppy conditions. The energy barely cracks 200 most days. There’s a brief flicker on Saturday, September 12th, with a glassy 2ft easterly swell, but it’s barely surfable. That gap of poor conditions stretches right through until Wednesday, September 16th.

Wednesday morning, September 16th, the glass comes back. A 2ft easterly swell with a 12-second period, and it’s glassy as anything. The energy is light at (272), but the clean, offshore wind from the SSW in the afternoon makes it a fun small-wave session. This is the next real bright spot—light, clean, and glassy.

Then we hit another dry spell. From Thursday, September 17th, right through to Sunday, September 20th, it’s back to poor surf. Swell sizes are tiny (2ft to 2ft), energy is low (under 200), and wind is all over the place. Not much to get excited about.

Finally, the long-range window brings a promising pulse. Monday, September 21st, we see a 4ft swell from the east-northeast with an 8-second period, but it’s cross-onshore and marginal. However, Monday afternoon is a real standout for the second week: a 5ft swell from the east-northeast, clean with a 9 mph cross-offshore breeze, and energy building to (343). That’s a fun, clean wave.

Then the real kicker: Tuesday morning, September 22nd. A 5ft swell from the southeast with a very long 17-second period. The combined energy is massive at (1556). It’s glassy—absolutely dead calm. This is a true groundswell with serious grunt. With that long period, it’ll be best on the reefs and points, not the beach break. It’s a standout for experts, but it’s still two weeks out. Promising, but we’ll have to watch how it shapes up. The water temp is about average for the time of year.

For the best of the bunch: Tuesday afternoon, September 8th, with that 7ft south swell and light cross-offshore wind at Shida. Clean, solid size, and plenty of energy (1295). The other standout is Tuesday morning, September 22nd—that glassy, long-period groundswell at 5ft from the southeast. Both are expert territory, but they’re the real highlights.

Rusty.

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