Sponge bay Surf Break

Lat Long: 38.70° S 178.06° E

Sponge bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 am 08 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Sponge bay sea temperature is
13.1°C
0.9° 

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 8 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 13 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 16s period, SSE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 13 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 16s period, SSE swell with 1,875 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 9 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 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 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m 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 1.9m 16s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 13) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 8s period and expected on Wednesday (Sep 09) at 6PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 3AM (Wed 9th Sep)4.5ft (1.4m) 8s
Best Surf 3AM (Sun 13th Sep)6ft (1.8m) 16s
Most Powerful 6AM (Sun 13th Sep)6ft (1.9m) 16s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here again, giving you the same picture in feet and knots.

Water temperature is around 56°F, which is about normal for this time of year.

We’ve got a rough start. Right now, it’s a total mess. Tuesday has a big 10ft swell from the SSE, but a 16-knot cross-on wind is making it lumpy and awful. The combined energy is a strong 1774, but that doesn’t help you. First few days are a total miss.

Come Wednesday morning, things calm down a bit. The swell drops to 4ft from the SE, period a short 8 seconds, and the wind is a light 3 knots from the NW, blowing cross-off. It’s clean, but only small energy (207). Thursday is even smaller, dropping to 3ft then 2ft. Just tiny waves. Friday through Saturday is mixed – Friday morning has a crazy long 19-second period swell, but it’s only 1.0ft and blowing 19 knots onshore. No good.

Now for the real deal. Sunday, September 13th is the day. Early morning you’ve got a solid 6ft swell from the SSE, with a dreamy 16-second period. Wind is a light 8 knots offshore from the WNW, keeping the surface clean. The combined energy is a powerful 1701. This is excellent surf for experienced guys. That long-period groundswell might break a little straight at a beach setup like Sponge Bay, but for the crew who knows how to handle it, this is the best session of the whole run. And get this – Sunday afternoon goes glassy, with the swell still a nice 5ft and the wind dead calm. That’s a golden window.

After that, we get a run of smaller, clean days into next week. Monday the 14th has a clean 3ft morning, Tuesday the 15th a clean 3ft morning – just small fun waves.

Then there’s a quiet patch until Friday, September 18th. That morning, another solid pulse: 6ft from the SSE, 14-second period, light 6-knot offshore wind from the NW. The combined energy jumps to 1189. Another great morning for experienced surfers.

So, plain and simple: the first few days are a washout. Sunday, September 13th is your best shot – big, clean groundswell. Friday, September 18th is the second best. After that, it’s smaller and quieter. Crowds can be an issue at Sponge Bay sometimes, so get out there early on that Sunday.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Tue morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Thu afternoon, min 7°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Fri morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Sun morning, min 7°C on Fri night). Mainly fresh winds.

Tuesday
8
Wednesday
9
Thursday
10
Friday
11
Saturday
12
Sunday
13
Monday
14
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
3
4
3
2
2
1
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
SSE
9
2.5
SSE
8
1.5
SE
8
1.3
SE
8
1.1
SE
8
1
SE
8
0.8
SE
8
0.6
SE
7
0.3
SSE
15
0.3
SSE
19
1.8
S
7
0.4
SSE
18
0.4
SSE
17
0.5
S
16
1.4
SSE
16
1.8
SSE
16
1.5
SSE
16
1.3
SSE
15
0.9
SSE
14
1.5
SSE
8
1.3
SSE
12
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1217
907
291
201
159
116
67
44
44
74
338
102
97
132
988
1693
1194
756
331
244
483
Wind (km/h)
30
SW
25
SW
15
W
5
NW
20
ENE
20
NW
20
NW
10
NW
15
WSW
35
SSW
20
SSW
10
WNW
20
SW
25
S
10
NNW
15
WNW
5
ESE
15
WSW
5
NW
20
ENE
15
W
Wind State
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-on
on
off
cross-off
glassy
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
High Tide
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
8:00AM2.01m
8:14PM2.02m
Low Tide
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
2:08PM0.44m
2:32AM0.43m
light rain
cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
cloud
cloud
mod rain
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:20
6:18
6:16
6:15
6:13
6:11
6:09
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:51
5:52
5:52
5:53
5:54
5:54
5:55
 mm
2
6
Temp °C
10
11
9
12
12
9
16
17
12
10
11
9
13
12
10
14
14
13
13
14
13
Feels °C
4
6
5
10
8
5
12
14
9
3
6
6
7
6
8
11
12
10
10
12
9
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • 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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