
Surf Forecasts:
Sponge bay surf forecast from 7 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 13 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 16s period, SSE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 8 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 9s period, S swell with 2,128 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 9 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 8s period with SE 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 Wednesday (Sep 09) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 15s. 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 3.5m 9s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 8s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 13) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Wed 9th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Sun 13th Sep) | 6ft (1.8m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Tue 8th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Sponge bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, it’s Rusty here, and I’ve gotta be straight with ya – the next couple of weeks at Sponge Bay are looking like a real mixed bag of a waiting game. We’ve got some decent energy coming through at times, but the wind is going to be the main character, and not always a friendly one. Let’s break it down.
Right now, the water temp is sitting at 56°, which is just about what you’d expect for this time of year. Nothing weird going on there.
The first real flicker of hope doesn’t show up until Wednesday afternoon, the 9th of September. We’ve got a tiny little 4 ft swell from the SE, with a short period of 8 seconds, and the energy is weak (176). The wind will be a light cross-offshore from the NW though, so the surface will be clean. It’s surfable, but truly ordinary – you’ll be on a foamy or a longboard, just getting wet.
Thursday the 10th is a write-off – too small. Friday the 11th is a total mess with strong onshore winds and a jumbled up 7 ft swell. Forget it.
Now, let’s talk about the real standout. Monday the 14th of September is where it’s at. The morning is looking *glassy* – winds from the NW dropping to nothing, just a slight air. We’ve got a 4 ft SSE groundswell with a long 13-second period, and the energy is moderate (406). The afternoon holds up too, with a clean cross-offshore breeze. This is the best on offer by a long shot. The swell direction from the SSE is bang on what this spot likes, and with those conditions, Sponge Bay will be clean and fun. Keep in mind the period is long, so expect some lulls between sets, but the waves that come through will have real shape.
Tuesday the 15th is also a good call, with a clean offshore wind in the morning and a similar 3 ft swell from the SSE with a long 12 to 14-second period. The energy is still decent (274 to 314). It’s a solid follow-up day.
After that, things get ugly again. We get a big spike of energy on Sunday the 13th (1876) but it’s cross-onshore and choppy, so it’s a no-go. Then a big, messy system rolls in on Friday the 18th of September with a 7 ft SW swell (1517 energy) but strong cross-onshore winds making it a total washing machine. That kind of energy and wind setup at a beach and reef break like this honestly looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddling in.
The second week is a bust. From the 16th onward, it’s mostly onshore slop, chop, and lumpy conditions. There’s a stormy pulse on the 21st and 22nd, but it’s all bad wind.
So, to wrap it up: don’t bother paddling out until Monday the 14th. That’s your window. Glassy, clean, and a proper long-period groundswell. Tuesday the 15th is a good backup. The rest of the time, you’re better off waxing your board at home and waiting for a change in the forecast.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 18mm), heaviest on Mon night. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon morning, min 8°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SW on Mon night, calm by Wed morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Fri morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu afternoon, min 7°C on Fri night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 16 | S 16 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | SSE 15 | SSE 19 | S 7 | SSE 18 | SSW 7 | SSE 17 | SSE 16 | SSE 16 | SSE 16 | SSE 16 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
26 | 20 | 1860 | 1802 | 1256 | 311 | 191 | 147 | 98 | 68 | 56 | 45 | 74 | 181 | 102 | 56 | 159 | 1631 | 1675 | 1278 | 796 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | on | on | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross |
High Tide | 1:45PM1.84m | 2:13AM1.74m | 2:51PM1.83m | 3:33AM1.75m | 4:11PM1.86m | 4:48AM1.81m | 5:18PM1.94m | 5:44AM1.88m | 6:09PM2.01m | 6:33AM1.95m | 6:53PM2.05m | 7:17AM1.99m | 7:34PM2.05m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:06PM0.66m | 8:34AM0.56m | 9:17PM0.66m | 9:47AM0.55m | 10:31PM0.62m | 10:55AM0.51m | 11:34PM0.55m | 11:50AM0.46m | 00:26AM0.48m | 12:37PM0.42m | 1:10AM0.44m | 1:23PM0.42m | 1:52AM0.42m | ||||||||
6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | |
— | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | |
mm | 1 | 2 | 13 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 15 | 16 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 16 | 15 | 13 |
Feels °C | 12 | 8 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 5 | 13 | 11 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | SSE 7 | SE 6 | SE 7 | SSE 17 | SSE 16 | SSE 16 | SSE 16 | SSE 16 |
14 | 12 | 888 | 823 | 607 | 311 | 191 | 147 | 98 | 68 | 56 | 36 | 20 | 150 | 66 | 21 | 159 | 1631 | 1675 | 1278 | 796 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 16 | ENE 5 | S 15 | N 10 | S 15 | E 15 | E 15 | S 9 | NE 8 | S 8 | NE 8 | SSE 15 | SSE 19 | SSE 19 | SSE 18 | SSE 6 | S 6 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | NE 8 |
26 | 2 | 18 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 45 | 74 | 117 | 102 | 13 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 10 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 4 | S 16 | — | NE 16 | E 16 | E 15 | S 21 | E 15 | E 14 | E 14 | E 14 | ENE 8 | SSE 13 | ENE 13 | E 13 | SSE 12 | SE 6 | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | ENE 12 |
1 | 20 | — | 10 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 18 | 18 | 14 | 29 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 14 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | SSW 6 | — | — | NNE 3 | — | — | — | S 5 | S 7 | — | SSW 7 | — | NE 8 | — | — | — |
— | — | 1860 | 1802 | 1256 | 66 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 16 | 181 | — | 56 | — | 17 | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 3 | 37 | 57 | 68 | 68 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 113 | 43 | 1 | 3 | 122 | 10 | 10 | 44 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Gisborne and Mahia | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.










