Spew Pits Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G'day, it's Rusty. Let's be straight with you: the outlook for Spew Pits over the next 16 days is a frustrating one. This is a solid, expert-level reef break that needs the right conditions to fire, but for the vast majority of this forecast period, the wind and swell aren't playing ball. There's a long stretch of poor surf conditions, and it's not until the very end that we see a glimmer of something worth paddling out for.

The real kicker is the wind. From Thursday the 16th right through to the end of the month, we're looking at a persistent cross-off or cross-shore breeze, mostly from the N or NNE, blowing at 19 to 25 mph, sometimes even 25 mph. That's a fresh to strong breeze, and it's going to put a chop on the surface and mess up the take-off zone. While the swell direction is often from the N or NNE, which is pretty close to the optimum NNW, the size and period aren't doing us any favours. For the first week, the swell is tiny, between 1 ft and 4 ft, with a short period of 6 to 9 seconds. That's weak, low-energy surf, and the combined energy numbers are pitiful, barely cracking 100 (66 to 196). You're just not going to get a rideable wave.

The water temperature is sitting at 74°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, but that's not much comfort when the surf is flat and messy.

The second week brings a bit more size, with swell heights climbing from 5 ft up to 7 ft by the 25th and 26th of July. The period does improve to 7 or 8 seconds, but it's still a short-period windswell, not clean groundswell. The combined energy ramps up to moderate levels, hitting 529 and 532 on those days, but the wind is still cranking from the N or NNE, and the wave comment is still "poor surf conditions." The only slight change comes on the 26th of July, Sunday morning, where the comment shifts to "marginal surf forecast or questionable tide conditions." That's our only real standout, and it's a weak one. The swell is 7 ft from the N, with an 8-second period, and the wind is cross-off from the NNE at 19 mph. The energy is there (532), but it's still a lumpy, wind-affected mess for a break that demands clean, lined-up waves. For a crew of experts, this is the only time in the window where it might be worth a look, but you'd be gambling on the tide and hoping the wind holds off.

The last few days of July and into the 31st see the swell drop back to 5 ft to 6 ft, but the wind stays strong. The 31st of July, Friday, shows a shift to a NNE swell with a period of 8 seconds and the combined energy actually spikes to 582 and 642. That's a proper surge of energy, but the wave comment is still "marginal" at best, with the wind still a cross-off 19 mph. It's a tease. For a break that's normally consistent, this is a real dry spell. The best on offer is that Sunday morning, 26th of July, but even then, it's a long shot. Keep your eyes on the forecast, because a shift in the wind could turn this whole thing around, but right now, you're better off finding something else to do.

Rusty.

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