Stockton Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let me break it down for you. It’s Rusty here, and I’ve got the goods on Stockton.

Straight up, the next couple of weeks are looking pretty grim for a paddle. We’re staring down a long dry spell, with no real surf to speak of for the first week and a half. From Thursday the 20th of August all the way through to Monday the 31st of August, it’s a flat, blown-out mess. The swell is tiny, mostly under 2 feet, and the wind is all over the shop – onshore, cross-shore, you name it. The energy is weak, with readings barely cracking 60 (combined energy of all swells directed here). It’s a total write-off for a surf. If you’re into kite surfing, the stronger onshore breezes might get you going, but for a surfboard, it’s a no-go.

We finally get a little flicker of hope on Tuesday the 1st of September. The morning shows a tiny 2 foot swell from the SE, with a period of 11 seconds – that’s some long-period groundswell energy. The wind is light and cross-offshore from the WNW, so the surface will be clean. The energy is still low, only 55 (combined energy of all swells directed here), but for a beach/jetty setup like Stockton, that longer period can mean a few lined-up runners. The waves will be small and gutless, but it’s the only window where you can actually get wet without fighting a washing machine. The water temp is about average for this time of year.

Then it gets a bit interesting on Wednesday the 2nd of September. The afternoon sees a 3 foot swell from the ESE, with a period of 11 seconds. The energy jumps significantly to 264 (combined energy of all swells directed here) – that’s moderate wave energy. The wind is a strong cross-offshore from the ENE, so the surface will be clean. Now, 3 foot is still small, but that combination of decent period and clean wind on a beach break can actually produce some fun, punchy waves, especially if the sandbanks are good. This is the standout of the whole forecast. It’s still not huge, but relative to everything else, this is the best on offer. The energy is moderate, not strong, so don’t expect anything too heavy. The swell direction is ESE, which is off the optimum direction for Stockton (SE) but close enough to work.

After that, it fades again. Thursday the 3rd and Friday the 4th of September are back to small, weak swells with onshore winds. The energy drops back under 100. The waves are there but they’re poor and messy.

So, the bottom line: if you’re desperate for a paddle, Tuesday the 1st of September morning is your only real shot at something clean, but it’s tiny. The real highlight, the one that’s worth keeping an eye on, is Wednesday the 2nd of September afternoon. That 3 foot, 11-second swell with clean cross-offshore wind is the best wave we’re going to see in this 16-day stretch. It’s a long-range call, so keep your fingers crossed, but it’s the one to aim for.

Rusty.

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