Sponge bay Surf Break

Lat Long: 38.70° S 178.06° E

Sponge bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 pm 18 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Sponge bay sea temperature is
12.8° C
1.3° 

Sponge bay surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Sponge bay surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 21 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 16s period, SSE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 11s period, S swell with 3,730 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 8s period with SSE swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Sponge bay this week:

The surf forecast for Sponge bay over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 21) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Sponge bay in the next 16 days are 4.0m 11s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 22) at 6AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12AM (Fri 21st Aug)3.5ft (1.1m) 8s
Best Surf 3PM (Fri 21st Aug)3.5ft (1.1m) 16s
Most Powerful12PM (Wed 19th Aug)13ft (4.0m) 11s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Sponge bay over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s on the menu at Sponge Bay. It’s a beach and reef setup, pretty exposed to the south and southeast, so it catches a bit of energy, but we’ve got a long wait ahead before anything really worth paddling out for shows up.

Right now and through the first few days, it’s a write-off. Wednesday the 19th and Thursday the 20th of August are a total mess—big, raw swell around 12ft dropping to 7ft, but with screaming onshore and cross-onshore winds, the combined energy is huge (2681–5204), and the surf is just ugly. Nothing for us there.

Friday the 21st is where things finally turn. We get a clean, lined-up 3ft to 4ft SSE groundswell, with a lovely 16-second period. That’s a long-period pulse, so it’ll have proper shape and power for its size, and with light cross-off winds, the conditions are looking very good. The combined energy is moderate (623–728). This is the standout of the whole run. Sponge Bay will be offering clean, fun waves for anyone from beginners to intermediate surfers. It’s not huge, but it’s quality.

After Friday, the weekend drops off quickly. Saturday the 22nd and Sunday the 23rd have smaller, weaker swell (1ft to 3ft) and energy levels falling fast (73–200). The wind stays clean, but there’s just not enough push to get excited about. Monday the 24th through Thursday the 27th are flat to tiny—mostly 1ft to 3ft, with very low energy (56–210). A few sessions are “surfable but very ordinary,” so you’d be scratching for scraps.

Friday the 28th brings another small pulse of 3ft SSE groundswell with a 16-second period, and this time the wind is offshore. That’s a clean, glassy morning. The combined energy is moderate (283), and while it’s not a standout like the 21st, it’s a decent option for a gentle, clean wave. Crowds are possible here sometimes, so keep that in mind if you want a quiet paddle.

Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th are small and weak again—1ft to 2ft, with energy under 120. A glassy afternoon on the 29th is nice but barely surfable. Then we hit a gap of a few days with very poor conditions and onshore winds until Monday the 31st of August, when a 5ft SSE groundswell rolls in with 15-second period, but it’s onshore and choppy. Not worth it.

Into the first week of September, there’s a flicker of hope on Thursday the 3rd: 4ft SSE groundswell at 12 seconds, with light offshore wind and clean conditions. That’s a moderate-energy setup (510) and could be fun for intermediate surfers, but it’s a long-range call—promising but less certain.

Overall, the clear standout is Friday the 21st of August. Get out there for that. The rest is either too small, too windy, or too far out to bank on. Keep an eye on the Thursday the 3rd of September session as a maybe.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 13°C on Fri morning, min 8°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (near gales from the SSW on Tue night, light winds from the ENE by Fri morning).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Sat afternoon, min 10°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
Sunday
23
Monday
24
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
1
0
0
2
2
3
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3.5
SSE
12
3.5
SSE
11
3.5
S
11
2.4
S
14
1.8
SE
9
1.6
SE
9
1.1
SSE
8
0.9
SSE
16
1.1
SSE
16
0.9
SSE
13
0.8
SSE
12
0.7
SSE
11
0.6
SSE
11
0.4
SSE
10
0.4
SE
10
0.3
ESE
12
0.3
ESE
13
0.4
SSE
14
0.9
SSE
15
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
3148
2650
3028
2441
562
439
160
371
568
317
164
115
78
39
33
30
34
63
392
Wind (km/h)
50
SSW
45
S
35
SSW
15
SW
25
SW
20
SSW
10
WNW
10
NW
15
NE
20
NW
20
NW
15
NW
20
NW
20
NW
15
NW
15
WNW
10
NW
20
ENE
15
NW
Wind State
cross-on
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
10:22PM2.02m
10:47AM1.96m
11:06PM1.95m
11:32AM1.90m
11:48PM1.87m
12:17PM1.84m
00:30AM1.79m
1:01PM1.78m
1:14AM1.71m
1:46PM1.73m
2:05AM1.65m
2:36PM1.70m
Low Tide
4:39AM0.51m
4:56PM0.58m
5:24AM0.56m
5:42PM0.65m
6:09AM0.62m
6:28PM0.72m
6:53AM0.69m
7:17PM0.77m
7:38AM0.75m
8:09PM0.81m
8:27AM0.80m
9:07PM0.83m
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:48
6:48
6:46
6:45
6:43
6:41
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:34
5:34
5:35
5:36
5:37
5:37
 mm
6
2
Temp °C
9
10
10
9
12
12
9
13
12
11
17
18
14
16
18
14
14
14
13
Feels °C
-2
1
2
2
6
6
6
10
8
8
12
14
10
11
15
11
11
10
9
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Information about the Sponge bay Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Sponge bay provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Sponge bay can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Sponge bay surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Sponge bay) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).

Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Sponge bay may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.

Are you planning a holiday in Gisborne and Mahia? If you are looking for accommodation near Sponge bay, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Gisborne and Mahia, consider staying in Gisborne which is 8 km (5 miles) away.

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