Tainohama Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s shaping up for our stretch of coast. This is a pretty interesting run, with a slow start but a big, raw pulse of swell waiting for us in the second week. We’re looking at Tainohama, a reef setup that packs a punch.

Alright, the first few days are a bit of a letdown. Tuesday the 1st kicks off with a tiny 2ft easterly swell and onshore southerly breeze – pretty poor. The water temp is 84°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year due to the anomaly of 2°. Not much to get excited about. We then get a couple of glimmers on Wednesday morning the 2nd and Thursday the 3rd, with waist-high, 4ft to 4ft SSE swell coming in under clean, offshore winds. The wave energy is moderate. It’s surfable and clean, but nothing to write home about.

Then from Friday the 4th through to Monday the 7th, we get some shoulder-high 6ft to 7ft swell, but it’s messy. The winds are cross-offshore or fresh offshore, but the conditions are marginal and choppy. It’s a lot of water moving but the conditions aren’t letting it be proper.

Now, the real story starts on Tuesday the 8th of September. This is the standout. The swell jumps to a thumping 15ft from the SE at 11 seconds. That’s a solid period groundswell with strong energy. The wind is clean offshore from the NNW. Now, 15ft on a reef is serious – this is experts-only territory, and being a reef break, the long period sets will peel beautifully but break fast and heavy. Do not take this lightly. The paddle out will be easier between sets though due to that longer 11-second gap. This quality persists into Wednesday and Thursday the 9th and 10th, with 12ft to 13ft SE swell holding, but the winds get tricky with some cross-shore and onshore slop coming in Thursday afternoon and Friday. That big window from Sunday the 8th to Monday the 14th has some solid, clean options. The weekend of the 13th and 14th drops down to a more manageable 6ft to 6ft on Sunday with clean cross-offshore wind, and Monday morning the 14th goes glassy with 4ft – that’s the sweet spot for cleaner, less intense surf.

After that, the swell fades out into the 3ft to 5ft range through the 15th and 16th with a mix of winds, ending the run with marginal conditions.

For the best on offer, your absolute highlight is Tuesday the 8th. If you are an expert, that 15ft SE swell with offshore winds at Tainohama is going to be firing and very heavy. The second standout is Sunday the 13th and Monday morning the 14th, where 6ft to 4ft swell combines with light or glassy winds – perfect for a clean, less intimidating session at the same spot. Keep in mind Tainohama is a reef, pretty deep, and crowds are possible here sometimes.

Stay safe out there.

- Rusty

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