Stockton Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let's have a look at what's on the cards for Stockton Beach over the next couple of weeks. Straight up, I'm not gonna lie to you – it's a bit of a slow burner. The first week especially is pretty flat and messy, so don't get your hopes up for anything heroic just yet.

We kick off on Thursday the 6th of August with tiny 1ft southerly slop on a 10-second period. The wave energy is next to nothing, barely 35. There's a cross-off breeze, but it doesn't matter – it's just poor. By the afternoon, the wind backs off to glass for a second, and the swell nudges up to 2ft, but it's still ordinary. Friday the 7th is a bit of a tease: a clean 2ft southerly in the morning with an offshore breeze, but the period is short and the energy is still weak at 114. Don't get excited.

The weekend isn't much better. Saturday the 8th starts with 1ft and glassy conditions, but it's just not enough. Sunday afternoon the 9th is where we finally see a pulse, with a 4ft easterly swell rolling in. The period is a short 9 seconds, but the combined energy jumps to 362 – that's moderate wave energy. The cross-off wind is light and it's clean. This is the first time I'd even consider paddling out. It's still not a standout, but it's the best of a very average bunch in this first week.

Now, we hit a proper lull. From Monday the 10th right through to Tuesday the 18th of August, it's a long, drawn-out stretch of poor to marginal surf. The wind howls from the west and northwest at 22 mph or more, or it's onshore and choppy. There's a window on Saturday the 15th of August that looks okay, with 5ft to 6ft SSE swell and light offshore or glassy conditions. The wave energy is moderate (364 to 447). That's a nice clean session for an intermediate, but it's not a huge swell.

Here's the real standout – and it's one for the crew with some experience. Mark your calendar for Friday the 14th of August. The morning shows a solid 8ft S swell, with a clean offshore wind from the WNW. The combined energy hits a massive 1071 – that's strong, very strong wave energy. The forecast does note it might be too big for the break, so this is for the experts only. That is a proper, powerful groundswell pushing through. The swell direction is S, which is a bit off the optimum SE, but the raw power and the offshore wind make this the best session of the whole 16-day outlook by a long shot. It's still over a week away, so it's a promising but less certain call, but if it lines up, it'll be worth the wait.

Crowds at Stockton are sometimes an issue, so if that Friday the 14th delivers, expect a few others to have the same idea.

Alright, that's the story. A long flat spell, one decent but average weekend session, and one absolute thumper for the brave. If you're a beginner, stay well clear of the 14th.

Rusty.

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