Tainohama Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cooking for Tainohama over the next couple of weeks. Buckle up, because this one’s a story of two halves.

First thing to note: the water is sitting at a toasty 83°F and feels a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so you’ll be surfing in tropical bathwater.

Right now and through the start of the period, it’s pretty quiet. We’ve got tiny ankle-snappers around 1.0ft to 1ft from the southeast with weak energy. It’s clean enough on the morning glass-offs, especially Friday afternoon when it goes glassy, but honestly, these are barely surfable waves with very ordinary conditions. Not worth paddling out for unless you’re desperate for a float.

The first real glimmer comes on Sunday, August 2nd. The morning shows a bump in size to 2ft from the east-southeast, with moderate energy and a period stretching to 14 seconds – that’s a proper groundswell start. The real kicker is Sunday afternoon: 3ft at 16 seconds from the east-southeast, with moderate energy. It’s still clean with a cross-off breeze, but it’s only marginal. Worth a look if you’re keen, but don’t call in sick for it.

Now, Monday, August 3rd morning – this is where we get our first standout. Tainohama’s early session sees 6ft from the east-southeast with a long 17-second period and strong energy. The wind is glassy from the east at 3 mph. That’s excellent surf for experienced surfers. The water’s glassy, the swell has real push, and the reef setup at Tainohama will handle that long-period groundswell beautifully. Just remember, this is an advanced break, and with 6ft and that energy, it’s not for beginners. The afternoon turns onshore with southerly wind, so make the most of the morning.

Then we hit a massive window of extreme swell. From Tuesday, August 5th through to the 7th, the ocean goes absolutely nuts. Wednesday morning the 5th sees 16ft from the southeast at 18 seconds, with very strong energy. That’s exceptional for experts only. By Thursday the 6th, we’re looking at 26ft from the southeast with extremely strong energy. This is way, way too big for any sane surfer at Tainohama – the reef will be a washing machine. The notes say it’s too big for this break, and they’re right. Even if the wind is favorable, this is big-wave territory for tow crews only, if that. Honestly, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. The afternoon of the 6th and the 7th see similar huge numbers, but with onshore and cross-onshore winds making it a total mess. Steer clear unless you’re a pro with a death wish.

The swell drops back a bit from Saturday, August 8th onward, but it remains bumpy and onshore – not great. We get a bit of respite on Tuesday morning, August 11th: 5ft from the south with an 11-second period, moderate energy, and glassy conditions. That’s a very good surf session for the experienced crew. The water will be clean, and the reef should offer some nice lines.

Further out, by Friday, August 14th, we get a nice little pulse of 4ft from the east-southeast with a 13-second period and moderate energy. The wind is offshore from the north-northwest at 12 mph, making for clean, groomed waves. This is another standout in the second week – good shape, decent size, and clean conditions. The afternoon holds similar quality with a cross-off breeze.

Overall, the clear winner for the best on offer is Monday morning, August 3rd: 6ft, 17-second groundswell, glassy conditions. Second best is Friday morning, August 14th: 4ft, clean offshore wind, solid energy. Everything else is either too small, too big, or too windy. The huge swell in early August is a spectacle, but not for paddling.

Keep your eyes on the horizon, and remember – this is a long-range forecast, so the later standouts are promising but not locked in.

Rusty out.

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