Sponge bay Surf Break

Lat Long: 38.70° S 178.06° E

Sponge bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 am 04 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Sponge bay sea temperature is
13.3° 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 4 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 6 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 12s period, S swell with cross-shore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 5 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 12s period, S swell with 6,248 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 6 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 12s period with S 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 Thursday (Aug 06) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 2.0m and 12s. Another secondary swell of 0.2m and 16s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-shore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Sponge bay in the next 16 days are 4.5m 12s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 05) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 11) at 12PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6AM (Thu 6th Aug)10ft (3.0m) 12s
Best Surf 6AM (Thu 6th Aug)10ft (3.0m) 12s
Most Powerful 9AM (Wed 5th Aug)15ft (4.5m) 12s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, let’s see what we’ve got here for Sponge Bay. To be honest, it’s a rough start. The first couple of days are a write-off. Tuesday the 4th and Wednesday the 5th are dominated by a big, messy swell and strong onshore winds, so you’re better off doing something else entirely. The wait is on.

The first real glimmer of hope comes through on Friday morning the 7th. We’ve got a clean 5ft SE swell pushing in with a light offshore breeze out of the northwest. The water is sitting at 56°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year, so no surprises there. The energy is moderate (554), and the swell period is a solid 10 seconds, so there’s a bit of push to it. By Friday afternoon, the swell drops a touch to 3ft from the SSE, but the period stretches out to a very long 16 seconds. That’s pure groundswell, and with a clean offshore wind, it’s going to be glassy. That Friday afternoon window is the standout of the whole outlook – the wave quality is expected to be very good.

Saturday the 8th keeps things surfable but not as exciting. Mornings are clean with 4ft SE swell and a 13-second period, but the energy is already dropping off. The afternoon is a bit smaller and more marginal. Sunday the 9th sees the energy drop further, with only small clean waves, it’s surfable but nothing to get excited about.

From Monday the 10th right through to the middle of the month, it’s a long stretch of poor conditions. The wind swings onshore, the swell stays small and weak, and the energy readings are in the low hundreds or even double digits. There’s a brief moment on Wednesday the 12th with a clean 4ft wave from the ESE, but the period is a weak 7 seconds, so it’s gutless. It’s really just a window of clean but ordinary surf.

The only other thing worth mentioning is way out on Wednesday the 19th. That’s over two weeks away, so don’t get your hopes up, but the models are hinting at a 10ft S swell with 12-second period. The energy is strong (3646), but for a beginner-friendly spot like Sponge Bay, that’s way too big. It’s only for experts, and even then, the wind is onshore, so it’ll be a mess. For now, lock in that Friday the 7th afternoon session – that’s the best you’re going to get.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Tue morning. Mild temperatures (max 9°C on Thu morning, min 5°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSW on Tue night, light winds from the W by Thu night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat afternoon, min 6°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light.

Tuesday
4
Wednesday
5
Thursday
6
Friday
7
Saturday
8
Sunday
9
Monday
10
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
0
0
0
0
!
0
3
2
3
3
2
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.1
SSE
15
3.5
S
11
4.5
S
11
4.5
S
12
4
S
12
3.5
S
12
3
S
11
1.9
S
11
1.4
SE
10
1.4
SE
10
0.9
SSE
16
1.4
SE
14
1.2
SE
13
1.1
SE
12
1
SE
11
0.8
SE
11
0.6
SSE
14
0.6
SSE
13
0.7
SE
12
0.7
SE
11
0.7
SE
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
491
2454
4585
6248
4443
2984
2196
846
420
420
407
788
464
330
242
137
123
118
140
119
100
Wind (km/h)
35
SSW
40
SSW
45
SW
40
SSW
35
SW
25
SW
20
W
20
SSW
15
WNW
10
NW
15
ENE
15
NW
15
NW
20
NW
15
NNW
15
NW
15
NW
15
SW
15
SSW
20
SE
30
SE
Wind State
on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
High Tide
10:00AM1.91m
10:23PM1.98m
10:42AM1.92m
11:05PM1.95m
11:28AM1.91m
11:47PM1.92m
12:16PM1.90m
00:32AM1.88m
1:05PM1.89m
1:22AM1.83m
1:58PM1.86m
2:20AM1.79m
2:55PM1.84m
Low Tide
4:05PM0.52m
4:41AM0.50m
4:47PM0.51m
5:24AM0.47m
5:31PM0.52m
6:09AM0.46m
6:20PM0.54m
6:56AM0.45m
7:14PM0.57m
7:47AM0.47m
8:12PM0.60m
8:44AM0.49m
9:16PM0.63m
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
cloud
light rain
cloud
cloud
cloud
rain showers
mod rain
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:07
7:05
7:05
7:03
7:01
7:01
7:00
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:20
5:21
5:22
5:22
5:23
5:24
5:25
 mm
3
3
6
1
2
1
5
3
9
Temp °C
8
7
7
8
8
8
9
9
7
9
10
8
14
15
13
13
14
13
12
12
12
Feels °C
1
-3
-4
-2
0
1
3
3
3
6
6
4
10
10
9
10
11
11
8
8
6
  • 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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