Stockton Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, and I’ve got to be straight with you—this stretch is about as quiet as a lake on a still morning. Over the next 16 days, we’re looking at a whole lot of nothing for Stockton (beach/jetty), with hardly any swell to speak of and conditions that just aren’t cooperating. There’s a long, blank run ahead, with most days offering tiny, weak waves that won’t get your heart racing. The water’s sitting at 77°, which is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year, so at least the dip won’t be a shock.

Right off the bat, Friday afternoon, 14 August, sees nothing but a tiny 0.3 ft SE swell with a short 9-second period—barely a ripple—and while the wind is glassy out of the east at 3 mph, the wave energy is just 7. That’s weak. Saturday morning, 15 August, is more of the same: 0.3 ft SE swell, cross-off breeze from the NE at 6 mph, but the energy’s still only 5. It’s a clean, glassy morning, but there’s nothing to ride.

Sunday, 16 August, kicks up a bit with a 2 ft SSE swell, but the period’s a pathetic 4 seconds and the wind’s cross-on at 16 mph, making for choppy, messy surf. Energy’s only 20. Monday, 17 August, cleans up with a NW cross-off at 9 mph, but the swell’s still tiny—3 ft SSE with a 6-second period—and the energy hits 48. It’s clean, but not worth paddling out for.

The whole first week drags on like this. Tuesday, 18 August, has a 1 ft SE swell with offshore NW winds at 6 mph and 25 energy; Wednesday, 19 August, is glassy but only 1 ft SE with 27 energy; and Thursday, 20 August, sees a 3 ft S swell onshore with risk of thunderstorms and 45 energy. None of it breaks the poor surf cycle.

Into the second week, from 21 to 29 August, it’s a real snooze. There are a few cleaner moments—like Friday morning, 21 August, with an offshore NW breeze and 1 ft SSE swell (energy 19), or Friday afternoon with glassy conditions and 3 ft ESE swell (energy 32)—but the waves are still tiny. The only time we get a sniff of something is Thursday morning, 27 August, when a 1 ft SE swell with a longer 11-second period and glassy WSW wind at 3 mph brings the energy up to 61. The guidance calls it “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions,” and that’s about as good as it gets. Still, at 1 ft and a 1 out of 10, it’s barely a blip.

Truth is, there are no standouts here. The swell never climbs above 3 ft, the periods are short—mostly under 10 seconds—and the wind’s often onshore or messy. For a beach/jetty setup exposed to the SE, this is a tough run. If you’re desperate for a paddle, maybe Thursday morning, 27 August, with the glassy start and slightly longer period, but don’t hold your breath. Otherwise, it’s a dry spell. Things might pick up with a change in the forecast, but for now, it’s quiet.

Rusty

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