Stockton Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ve gotta be straight with you – over the next 16 days, Stockton isn’t exactly firing. We’ve got a long stretch of very ordinary conditions ahead. The first real hope doesn’t even show up until the very end of the month, so don’t get your hopes up for this week.

Let’s start with what’s on offer now. From Monday the 24th of August right through to Sunday the 6th of September, it’s pretty grim. The swell is tiny – mostly 1ft to 2ft – and the period is all over the place, sometimes long but mostly weak and short. The energy levels are low, with combined swell energy readings mostly in the 20s, 30s, and 70s. Winds are all wrong too, alternating between onshore and cross-onshore, keeping it choppy and messy. Even the glassy moment on Wednesday morning the 26th of August is wasted on 1ft of swell from the SE with a period of just 9 seconds. It’s just not worth paddling out for.

Thursday the 27th of August sees a bump in swell to 3ft from the S, but the period is a shocking 5 seconds – that’s windswell junk – and the wind is howling onshore from the SSE at 16 mph. Combined energy is only 77. That’s a write-off.

The weekend of the 29th and 30th of August stays flat and weak. Saturday morning the 29th of August might look clean with a light NNW cross-off breeze, but the swell is just 2ft from the SSE with a period of 6 seconds. Not worth the rubber.

Now, there is a glimmer of hope for those who wait. Monday the 31st of August morning is clean with a WNW cross-off breeze at 9 mph, but the swell is still tiny at 1ft from the SE. However, by the afternoon the swell period jumps to 18 seconds, energy climbs to 91, and it’s clean. That long-period groundswell is promising, but at only 2ft, it’s more of a longboard cruise than a proper session.

The standout window – and the best you’ll get – is Tuesday the 1st of September. Tuesday morning is offshore from the NNE at 9 mph with 2ft of SE swell, period 15 seconds, and combined energy hitting 108 – moderate energy. The water temp is about average for this time of year. Tuesday afternoon turns glassy with a NW breeze at 3 mph, the same 2ft SE swell, period 14 seconds, and energy 106. That’s your pick, but it’s small. Still, it’s clean, glassy, and offshore, which is the best you’re going to see.

Wednesday the 2nd of September morning holds up too, with a NE cross-off breeze, 2ft SE swell, period 14 seconds, and energy up to 147. But by the afternoon the wind swings onshore and ruins it. Thursday the 3rd of September brings a jump in swell to 4ft from the SE, period 15 seconds, and a huge energy reading of 510 – that’s strong energy. But it’s paired with a howling offshore NNW wind at 28 mph. That strong offshore will clean it up but make it a beast to paddle into – expert territory only. By the afternoon it eases, but still not ideal.

After that, it fades back into tiny, choppy nothingness for the rest of the run through to the 8th of September.

So, bottom line: if you’re desperate, Tuesday the 1st of September is your best bet – small but clean, with that lovely long-period groundswell at Stockton. It’s a beach/jetty setup, consistent but the crowds can show up sometimes, so you won’t be alone. But don’t expect much. This is a long, flat, and frustrating forecast for Stockton. Forecasts can change, but right now, it’s a waiting game.

Stay patient.
Rusty

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