Stockton Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer for Stockton over the next couple of weeks.

Straight up, I’ll be honest with you – this is a tough stretch. We’re looking at a long, dry spell of flat, weak conditions before anything even thinks about showing up. It’s going to be a quiet one for the paddle crew.

The Long Wait

From now through the end of August and into the first few days of September, it’s basically a ghost town out there. For over a week, the swell is tiny – we’re talking 0.7 ft to 1 ft – and the wave energy is absolutely gutless, with combined energy readings barely cracking 30 or 40 (14 to 44). The water is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year at 77°, but that’s about the only thing going for it. You’ll get some clean, glassy windows – like Monday morning the 24th with a 1.0 ft SE groundswell and glassy wind, or Wednesday morning the 26th with dead calm conditions and 1.0 ft – but it’s not enough to ride. It’s a flat spell, plain and simple. Not much you can do but wait.

Light at the End of the Tunnel

Things start to look a little more interesting around Thursday the 3rd of September. There’s a pulse of energy coming in. The morning of the 3rd sees a 2 ft SE swell (12-second period) with a combined energy of 133 – that’s moderate energy, finally. The wind is a cross-shore breeze, so it’s rideable. The afternoon picks up to 3 ft from the SE with a 13-second period, and the energy jumps to 336 (strong). Still, the wave comment is “poor surf conditions,” so it’s not a standout.

The Best of a Bad Bunch – Friday 4th September

Friday the 4th is the most interesting day of the whole period. The morning offers a 4 ft swell from the ESE with a short period of 7 seconds, but the combined energy is a solid 349 (strong). The wind is a clean cross-offshore breeze from the WNW at 16 mph. That wind is going to groom the face nicely. It’s a bit sloppy, short-period stuff, but it’s the best we’ve seen. The afternoon drops back to 2 ft from the SE with a 13-second period (215 energy) and still clean cross-offshore wind. This is the only day where you might actually get a few turns.

Saturday 5th September

Saturday the 5th starts off glassy with a 3 ft easterly swell (8 seconds) and 190 energy – that’s moderate. The morning is dead calm, which is a major positive. The afternoon though, gets messy. The swell jumps to 5 ft from the ENE, but it’s a short-period 8-second windswell, and the wind turns onshore from the SSE. The combined energy is 473 (strong), but it’s going to be a lumpy, bumpy mess. For the experienced guys, there might be a wave, but it’s not a beginner-friendly day – that 5 ft will be a handful.

The Final Stretch

After that, Sunday the 6th and Monday the 7th of September go back to poor surf conditions with clean wind but tiny, weak swell (2 ft to 5 ft, with energy in the 100-150 range). It’s not worth the drive.

The Verdict

Honestly, if you’re desperate for a paddle, Friday the 4th (morning) is the pick. The 4 ft ESE swell with a clean cross-offshore wind is your best chance. Saturday the 5th morning is also worth a look for the glassy 3 ft easterly swell. But for the vast majority of the next 16 days, you’re better off taking the dog for a walk.

Rusty.

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