Surf Forecasts:
Sponge bay surf forecast from 13 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 15 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 8s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 17 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 12s period, S swell with 6,992 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 15 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 8s period with E 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 Saturday (Aug 15) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 14s. 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 5.0m 12s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 17) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 9s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 15) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3AM (Sat 15th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Sat 15th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 9PM (Mon 17th Aug) | 16ft (5.0m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Sponge bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Hey folks, Rusty here. Let’s cut straight to it. Sponge Bay is pretty glum for the next week, but there’s a flicker of hope right at the end of the 16-day window.
We’ve got a long blank stretch from now until around the 21st of August. That’s over a week of pretty ordinary conditions, mostly thanks to messy, strong cross-onshore winds whipping up the bay. Even when there’s size, like early on the 17th with a 12ft SSE swell and a near-gale onshore wind, it’s an absolute no-go for a paddle board – you’d need a kite to have any fun in that setup. The water’s feeling a bit colder than normal at 55°, which is pretty standard for this time of year but still makes you want a thicker suit. The waves are weak for much of this stretch, with combined energy often in the low hundreds (110), but it does spike to strong levels mid-month (510) – just a shame about the wind.
The first real standout comes on Friday the 21st. The morning is okay, but the Friday afternoon session at Sponge Bay is the pick of the bunch. We’re looking at a 4ft SSE swell with a very long 16-second period – that’s proper groundswell energy and it should wrap in nicely. The combined energy hits 800, which is moderate and solid. Best of all, we’ve got a gentle breeze going cross-offshore. That surf is going to be clean, with real push. This is a fairly consistent beginner-friendly spot that can get crowded sometimes, so don’t be surprised to see a few others out.
Saturday the 22nd and Sunday the 23rd still have clean conditions with cross-off winds, but the swell drops off fast. Saturday morning still has some waist-high leftovers around 3ft, but by Sunday it’s down to 2ft and weak (135 energy). It’s surfable, but nothing to write home about.
The very last real glimmer is Monday the 24th afternoon, with a clean 2ft SSE groundswell (15 seconds) and moderate offshore wind. It’s small but tidy. After that, the energy fades into ankle-snappers for the rest of the outlook.
So to sum it up: the first week and a bit is a write-off. Hang in there for Friday the 21st afternoon – that’s your best chance for a proper clean session with some long-period grunt. The rest is just small clean windows for a sneaky go-out from the 24th. Forecast can change, but that’s how it’s shaping up right now.
Stay stoked,
Rusty
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 39mm), heaviest during Sat afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Fri morning, min 8°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the E on Fri night, strong winds from the SW by Sun morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Mon morning. Very mild (max 12°C on Wed afternoon, min 8°C on Mon morning). Mainly strong winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | |||||||||||||||
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) | E 7 | E 7 | E 8 | E 9 | E 8 | ESE 9 | S 18 | SSE 9 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | S 11 | SSE 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | SSE 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 104 | 107 | 407 | 856 | 309 | 417 | 173 | 900 | 2122 | 2693 | 3346 | 5734 | 3111 | 3092 | 2354 | 3353 | 3242 | 1782 | 963 | 861 | 246 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 7:19PM2.07m | 7:42AM1.98m | 8:05PM2.10m | 8:30AM2.01m | 8:51PM2.10m | 9:16AM2.02m | 9:37PM2.07m | 10:02AM2.01m | 10:22PM2.02m | 10:47AM1.96m | 11:06PM1.95m | 11:32AM1.90m | 11:48PM1.87m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:58PM0.43m | 1:39AM0.49m | 1:48PM0.42m | 2:26AM0.46m | 2:37PM0.43m | 3:10AM0.46m | 3:25PM0.47m | 3:54AM0.48m | 4:11PM0.52m | 4:39AM0.51m | 4:56PM0.58m | 5:24AM0.56m | 5:42PM0.65m | ||||||||
 | |  | |  |  | | |  | | | |  |  | | | |  | |  |  | |
 | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — |
 | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:34 | — |
mm | 1 | 5 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 1 | — | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 10 |
Feels °C | 11 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | -1 | -3 | -2 | -2 | -1 | -1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 7 | ESE 14 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | ESE 9 | E 8 | ESE 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 11 | SE 12 | SE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SSE 9 | SE 7 |
| kJ | 104 | 20 | 407 | 443 | 309 | 417 | 173 | 132 | 81 | 71 | 110 | 2731 | 1608 | 1484 | 1139 | 1483 | 1616 | 899 | 516 | 449 | 100 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 14 | S 16 | S 15 | E 14 | S 18 | SSE 18 | SSE 18 | SSE 16 | ENE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 15 | ESE 11 | E 9 | SSE 16 | SSE 14 | ESE 14 | SSE 13 |
| kJ | 19 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 61 | 102 | 87 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — | 22 | 13 | 2 | 80 | 105 | 18 | 246 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 16 | ESE 14 | — | S 16 | E 14 | SSW 18 | S 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 14 | ESE 14 | ESE 12 |
| kJ | 5 | 20 | — | 5 | 4 | 61 | 158 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 29 | 18 | 77 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 6 | E 7 | ENE 8 | E 9 | — | SW 4 | S 6 | SSE 9 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | S 11 | SSE 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | — |
| kJ | 165 | 107 | 953 | 856 | — | 26 | 143 | 900 | 2122 | 2693 | 3346 | 5734 | 3111 | 3092 | 2354 | 3353 | 3242 | 1782 | 963 | 861 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 46 | 97 | 97 | 44 | 42 | 10 | 113 | 121 | 118 | 333 | 125 | 125 | 125 | 133 | 125 | 125 | 333 | 68 | 68 | 68 | 3 |
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.
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