Surfside Jetty Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, it’s Rusty here. Let’s cut through the noise and look at what’s actually happening with this one.

Right off the bat, I’ve gotta be straight with you – this is a tough stretch for Surfside Jetty. The whole 16-day window is pretty much a write-off for decent paddle surfing. There’s a few mornings that might catch your eye, but honestly, the conditions just aren’t playing ball.

The best we’ve got on offer is the morning of Thursday, July 30th. There’s a southerly swell running at 5ft with a 14-second period, which is a proper groundswell. The combined swell energy is sitting at 812 (moderate to strong energy), so there’s some push behind it. You’ve got light onshore winds from the SW, and the water temperature is a balmy 71°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year – that’s a 5° anomaly. That’s unusual, so it’s a nice bonus if you’re getting in. The problem is that the forecast says it’s marginal. The wind is onshore, so it’s not going to be glassy perfection. The break is fairly exposed, but the optimum swell direction is from the west, and this is coming from the south, so it’s not lining up ideally. Crowds are often here, so you won’t be alone. It’s inconsistent, so you’ll be waiting for sets. This one’s a maybe, not a standout.

The other morning that’s worth a mention is Friday, July 31st. The swell drops a touch to 4ft, still from the south with a 14-second period. The energy is down to 562 (moderate). Again, light SW onshore wind. Same story – marginal conditions. It’s not a day to get excited about.

After that, it’s a long, slow slide. From Saturday, August 1st, right through to the end of the forecast on August 14th, the wave heights drop to under 3ft, most of the time hanging around 1ft to 2ft. The wind is almost always onshore or cross-onshore, from the south or southwest. The swell period drops off too, into the 7 to 8-second range at times, which is just weak windswell. The combined energy numbers are mostly in the double digits to low triple digits (94 to 352), which is weak to barely moderate. The surf conditions are consistently marked as poor. There’s a slight uptick on the morning of August 13th, with a 2ft swell from the southwest at 16 seconds, giving 352 energy, but with light onshore wind and poor conditions flagged, it’s still not a goer.

For a spot that’s inconsistent anyway, this kind of blank run is not unusual. It’s a tough call, but I’d say hang the board up for a couple of weeks. If you’re desperate for a paddle, Thursday the 30th morning is your best shot, but keep your expectations in check. The setup here is honestly more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddler, given the onshore winds and small, choppy conditions.

This is Rusty, signing off.

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