Taft (Siltetz River) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s happening at Taft.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – this stretch looks pretty bleak for the first week or so. We’ve got a long run of poor surf conditions, with messy cross-shore and cross-onshore winds messing up what little swell is around. From Friday the 7th right through to Wednesday the 19th, there’s hardly anything worth paddling out for. The surf is small, choppy, and the wind just won’t cooperate. For a solid 12 days, you’re looking at a lot of flat, bumpy water.

The first real glimmer of hope shows up on Wednesday the 19th. The morning has a small 3ft swell from the WNW, with a period of 12 seconds, but the wind is still cross-onshore so it’s a bit of a gamble. The combined swell energy is up around 633 (moderate), but it’s marginal at best. The afternoon picks up a bit more size – 5ft from the WNW with an 11-second period – but again, the wind is cross-shore, so it’s not clean.

Now, the standout window falls on Thursday the 20th. The morning session is the best on offer across the whole 16 days. You’ve got a 5ft swell from the WNW, a sweet 12-second period, and the wind is just a gentle cross-shore, keeping things fairly tidy. The combined energy hits 1036 (strong), so there’s some real punch in the water. This is a groundswell, so it’s gonna have longer waits between sets, but the shape should be better. Just remember, at a river mouth like Taft, a long-period WNW swell can line up nicely, but it might also bend a bit. The water temp is about average for this time of year, no big anomaly to report. Keep an eye out for crowds – it’s known to get them sometimes.

The afternoon of the 20th drops off a bit, with the swell holding at 5ft from the W but the period shortening to 10 seconds and the cross-shore wind picking up to a moderate breeze, making it choppier. The energy drops to 849 (moderate).

After that, Friday the 21st is a step down, with the wind getting stronger and the swell fading. Saturday the 22nd is back to poor conditions with a weak 3ft WSW swell and a short period.

So, to sum it up: the first 12 days are a write-off. Don’t bother. If you’re desperate, the Thursday the 20th morning is your best bet – it’s the only time the stars align enough for a decent session. It’s not a classic, but it’s the only window with a real chance.

Rusty.

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