Surf Forecasts:
Sponge bay surf forecast from 13 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 15 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 9s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 10s period, S swell with 3,060 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 15 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 9s 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 9s 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 4.0m 10s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 9AM. 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 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3AM (Sat 15th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Sat 15th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 13ft (4.0m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Sponge bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here with a look at what’s coming our way for Sponge Bay.
Kicking things off, the water’s a bit cooler than usual at about 55°, roughly 3° colder than average for this time of year, so you might want an extra mil.
Truth be told, the next week and a half is pretty grim. We’ve got a real rough stretch from Thursday the 13th right through to the end of the following week. There’s a spike of energy mid-week on the 15th, with swell hitting 7ft to 8ft from the east and wave energy ramping up (1093 on Saturday morning), but it’s all blown out by onshore winds. Looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing during that blast. Then it gets properly messy: big 12ft to 13ft swell from the south with gale-force winds through the 17th, 18th, and 19th—absolute chaos out there (energy values hitting 3395 and even 7306). This is expert-only territory, and even then, it’s not going to be pretty.
There is a flicker of hope on Thursday the 20th. The swell drops to a more manageable 6ft from the southeast, with a very long-period groundswell of 14 seconds and a light cross-shore breeze. The energy is still considerable (1367), but the conditions are only marginal. It’s a notion, not a standout.
The real, genuine window opens up on Friday the 21st. Mark it down. The wind goes light offshore from the northwest, the swell cleans right up to 3ft from the SSE, with a lovely 11-second period (273 energy). That’s clean, glassy surf for a Friday morning. Saturday the 22nd morning is nearly identical: 3ft from the SSE, 13-second period (278 energy), and that same light offshore breeze. That’s your best bet for the whole run—small, but clean as a whistle and easy paddling. Crowds are possible here at times, but on these small, clean days it might just be worth the gamble.
The following week is mostly small and ordinary, though Tuesday the 25th morning has another clean little pulse: 4ft from the SSE, a long 14-second period (592 energy), and light offshore wind. Worth a look if you’ve got a log.
But overall, for the whole 16-day run, the clear standout is the Friday the 21st and Saturday the 22nd mornings at Sponge Bay. Small, clean, offshore—that’s our window.
Stay frothy.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 57mm), heaviest during Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Fri afternoon, min 10°C on Sun morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the NE on Fri night, strong winds from the SSW by Sun morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 21mm), heaviest during Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 11°C on Wed morning, min 8°C on Mon night). Mainly strong winds. | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SE 9 | ESE 8 | E 6 | E 7 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | ESE 8 | E 8 | SSE 9 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | S 9 | S 9 | SE 9 | SE 10 | SSW 9 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 93 | 45 | 100 | 128 | 536 | 373 | 302 | 376 | 200 | 997 | 1149 | 2044 | 1769 | 1836 | 1083 | 663 | 1414 | 3060 | 2174 | 1431 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 6:28PM2.00m | 6:51AM1.92m | 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 | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:48AM0.54m | 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 | ||||||||
 |  |  |  |  | | |  | | | | |  |  | | |  |  | | | |
 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — |
 | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:34 | — |
mm | 8 | — | 5 | 15 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | — | — | 2 | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 |
Feels °C | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 2 | -1 | -2 | -2 | -1 | -1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 5 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | ESE 8 | E 6 | ESE 14 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | ESE 8 | E 8 | E 9 | ESE 8 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SE 9 | SE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 |
| kJ | 93 | 45 | 100 | 20 | 536 | 373 | 302 | 376 | 200 | 212 | 180 | 846 | 809 | 909 | 1083 | 663 | 846 | 1275 | 983 | 733 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 5 | E 5 | ESE 14 | S 16 | SSE 9 | S 16 | S 18 | SSE 18 | SSE 18 | SSE 16 | S 19 | E 8 | E 8 | SSE 15 | SSE 14 | E 10 | SE 16 | SSE 17 | SSE 17 | SSE 15 |
| kJ | 14 | 14 | 19 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 60 | 104 | 87 | 64 | 124 | 49 | 72 | 40 | 16 | 10 | 96 | 681 | 786 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 13 | NE 6 | S 17 | ESE 14 | S 15 | SE 8 | E 14 | SSW 18 | — | — | SE 15 | S 16 | S 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 17 | 16 | 5 | 20 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 61 | — | — | 9 | 139 | 127 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 5 | NE 6 | ENE 6 | E 7 | ENE 9 | — | ESE 8 | — | SSW 6 | SSE 9 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | S 9 | S 9 | SSW 9 | S 8 | SSW 9 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 |
| kJ | 54 | 128 | 197 | 128 | 1437 | — | 198 | — | 109 | 997 | 1149 | 2044 | 1769 | 1836 | 900 | 432 | 1414 | 3060 | 2174 | 1431 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 1 | 46 | 97 | 1 | 44 | 42 | 3 | 118 | 121 | 121 | 121 | 121 | 122 | 121 | 68 | 68 | 68 | 125 | 10 |
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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