Taft (Siltetz River) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into what’s happening with the surf.

Right off the bat, I’ve gotta be honest with you – the next week and a half is looking pretty bleak for a proper paddle. The water is running much colder than normal for this time of year, sitting at just 51°F with a 8°F anomaly, so you’ll want a thick suit if you’re even thinking about getting wet.

For the next several days, from Wednesday the 29th of July right through to Tuesday the 4th of August, we’re looking at a real flat spell with poor conditions. The swell is small and weak, with combined energy readings mostly between 222 and 494 (moderate wave energy) – not enough to get excited about. The winds are mostly cross-onshore or cross-shore, keeping things choppy and messy. There’s honestly nothing worth paddling out for during this stretch.

We then hit a bit of a gap with no real recommendations until we get to Wednesday the 5th of August. That’s when things start to change, but not in a good way for this spot.

Taft (Siltetz River) – This river mouth setup is the only game in town, and it’s a tricky one. It’s a fairly consistent break, exposed to the west, and it works best with a W swell direction. The problem is, from Wednesday the 5th of August onward, the swell starts pumping hard. We’re talking about a solid NW swell building from 7ft on Wednesday afternoon, hitting 8ft on Thursday morning, and staying well over 7ft through to the weekend. The combined energy jumps into the 700s, 800s, and even over 1200 (strong to very strong wave energy) – there’s plenty of power in the water.

Now, for a river break, that’s just too much size. It’s an expert-only zone once it pushes past 8ft, and even from 7ft, it’s a handful. The swell period is around 8-10 seconds, so it’s a mix of ground and wind swell, but it’s going to be breaking heavy and fast. The wind is mostly cross-onshore or light, which *would* be clean, but the sheer size makes it a no-go for most.

If you’re an absolute charger and know this break inside out, the Thursday morning (6th of August) session with light WNW winds and that 8ft NW swell could be a wild one, but it’s a serious commitment. For everyone else? This is a kite-surfing kind of setup for the second week – plenty of wind and power, but not a clean paddle-surfing wave.

Honestly, this 16-day window is a write-off for a decent, user-friendly wave at Taft. The first week is flat and choppy, the second week is too big and raw. Sometimes it’s just like that around here. Forecasts can change, so keep an eye out, but for now, I’d be looking elsewhere or taking a break.

Rusty.

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