Sponge bay Surf Break

Lat Long: 38.70° S 178.06° E

Sponge bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 pm 09 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Sponge bay sea temperature is
13.6° C
1.0° 

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 9 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 17 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 18s period, ESE swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 10 Jul, 12PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 10s period, SSE swell with 2,990 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 12 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 9s 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 Sunday (Jul 12) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 13s. 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 Friday (Jul 10) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 14) at 3PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9PM (Sun 12th Jul)3.5ft (1.1m) 9s
Best Surf12AM (Fri 17th Jul)5.5ft (1.7m) 18s
Most Powerful12PM (Fri 10th Jul)13ft (4.0m) 10s

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


Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about Sponge Bay.

It’s a pretty bleak start, I’ve gotta be honest. We’re looking at a solid 5-day stretch of no good surf. Through the end of this week and into the start of next, it’s all poor conditions or marginal at best. The swell is messy, the wind is onshore or cross-onshore and strong, and wave energy is all over the place – hitting a massive 4015 on Friday afternoon, but you wouldn't want to be out there. That’s just raw, ugly power with a 22 mph southerly blowing straight on it. For a beach and reef setup like this, honestly, those first few days look way more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

Saturday the 11th stays poor with onshore wind, though the swell drops a bit. Sunday the 12th is still marginal, with a small 4 ft SE swell (period 9 seconds) and light cross-shore wind. It’s not good enough to call a recommendation.

Monday the 13th and Tuesday the 14th see the swell die right down. We’re talking tiny 3 ft to 1 ft ESE swell with clean conditions, but barely any energy – down to 65 on Tuesday morning. It’s surfable if you’re desperate, but very ordinary.

Wednesday the 15th morning is flat, but the afternoon picks up a little with a 2 ft easterly swell and light offshore northerly breeze. Clean, but tiny. That little uptick carries into Thursday the 16th with a 2 ft ESE swell, period stretching to 13 seconds, and light offshore wind again. Energy is still low at 227. Not enough to get excited about.

Now, here’s the one standout. Friday the 17th of July is the only real highlight in this whole 16-day window. We get a solid pulse of groundswell: 6 ft from the ESE with a very long period of 16 seconds. That kind of period brings serious energy (1772) and shape. For a beach and reef break, that long period can make it break a bit straight, but with light offshore northerly wind, it’s going to be clean. This one’s for experienced surfers – 6 ft with that much punch is no joke for beginners. It’s the only day that scores high, so if you’ve got a window, that’s the morning to paddle out.

After that, it falls apart. Saturday the 18th through to Tuesday the 22nd is a write-off. Strong onshore southwesterlies, messy conditions and poor surf. The swell sticks around between 4 ft and 7 ft, but the wind ruins it completely.

Wednesday the 23rd shows a flicker of hope. Morning has 6 ft from the ESE (period 9 seconds), light offshore cross-off wind and clean conditions – that earns a "good surf" label. It’s worth a look, but the afternoon turns onshore again.

Thursday the 24th and Friday the 25th are back to marginal, onshore wind, with the swell around 5 ft to 4 ft. Nothing to write home about.

So, to wrap it up: Friday the 17th morning is your best shot by a long way. The rest of the window is mostly a bust, with a brief clean window on the 23rd morning as a secondary chance. The water temperature is about average for this time of year – nothing weird there.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 28mm), heaviest during Thu night. Very mild (max 12°C on Thu night, min 9°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (near gales from the S on Thu night, light winds from the SSE by Sun afternoon).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed afternoon, min 7°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Friday
10
Saturday
11
Sunday
12
Monday
13
Tuesday
14
Wednesday
15
Thu
16
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3.5
SE
11
3
SE
10
3.5
SSE
10
2.3
SE
10
2.4
SE
9
1.7
ESE
9
1.5
SE
9
1.3
ESE
9
1.2
SE
9
1
ESE
9
0.8
ESE
9
0.8
ESE
9
0.7
ESE
8
0.5
ESE
8
0.4
ESE
10
0.3
ESE
10
0.3
ESE
11
0.6
E
10
0.4
ESE
10
0.5
E
12
0.6
ESE
13
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
2672
1936
2555
959
984
470
373
276
242
184
106
84
61
35
36
19
22
73
34
70
131
Wind (km/h)
50
S
40
S
35
S
30
SSW
25
SSW
15
SW
15
SSW
10
WSW
5
SSE
10
NW
15
NNW
15
NNE
10
NNW
10
NNW
10
NNW
15
NNW
10
NNW
10
NNE
15
NW
15
NW
10
N
Wind State
on
on
on
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
off
High Tide
00:59AM1.91m
1:30PM1.89m
1:45AM1.89m
2:19PM1.90m
2:38AM1.86m
3:12PM1.90m
3:39AM1.84m
4:14PM1.90m
4:47AM1.84m
5:25PM1.93m
5:56AM1.87m
6:35PM1.99m
7:00AM1.91m
Low Tide
7:24AM0.45m
7:35PM0.54m
8:10AM0.42m
8:29PM0.54m
9:01AM0.42m
9:28PM0.56m
10:01AM0.43m
10:33PM0.58m
11:06AM0.44m
11:47PM0.59m
12:10PM0.44m
00:58AM0.57m
1:10PM0.44m
heavy rain
light rain
light rain
part cloud
cloud
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
cloud
cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:24
7:24
7:24
7:22
7:22
7:22
7:22
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:00
5:01
5:01
5:02
5:04
5:04
5:05
 mm
20
5
2
1
Temp °C
12
12
11
10
10
10
10
10
11
9
12
14
12
15
14
13
15
17
13
15
16
Feels °C
2
4
3
3
4
6
5
8
9
6
9
10
9
12
11
11
13
15
10
12
13
  • 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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