Tainohama Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, checkin’ in from the Tainohama region. We’ve got a bit of a mixed bag comin’ our way over the next couple of weeks, so let’s break it down.

First up, a quick note on the water: the temps are pretty much what you’d expect for this time of year, so no nasty surprises there.

The action kicks off this Sunday, the 6th of September. Tainohama, a solid reef break that takes an exposed S swell, is lookin’ proper. Sunday morning there’s a bit of heavy rain, but don’t let that put you off—we’ve got a clean 7 ft swell from the ESE, with 9-second period. The combined energy is pumpin’ at 854, so there’s plenty of push. The wind is a cross-off from the NNE at 9 mph, keepin’ things clean. This is quality, advanced-level stuff. By Sunday afternoon, it builds to a meaty 8 ft from the ESE with a 10-second period, and the energy jumps right up to 1348. That’s a strong pulse, but make no mistake, this is for experienced crew only—it’s beyond the beginner zone and into expert territory. The wind stays cross-off and clean, so if you’ve got the skills, this is the standout of the whole window.

Monday, the 7th, sees the swell drop a notch. Morning brings 6 ft from the SE, still 10-second period, but the wind picks up to 16 mph from the north, makin’ it a bit of a battle. The energy is down to 668, and it’s only a marginal call. Afternoon’s a bit smaller at 5 ft, and the numbers just don’t stack up for a great session.

Tuesday, the 8th, is small and messy in the morning—4 ft from the SE—but the afternoon offers a surprise. The wind swings light offshore from the north, the swell drops to 3 ft from the south, but with a 10-second period it still has a bit of shape. Combined energy is 400, and the conditions turn glassy and clean. It’s not big, but for a mellow surf on a quiet break, it’s worth a look.

Wednesday, the 9th, we get a fresh blast of offshore wind, strong at 16-19 mph from the NNW. The swell is 6 ft from the SSE, with 8-9 second period, but the wind is so punchy it’ll put a bit of a texture on the face. The energy is moderate at 455-470, and these are days for hardy surfers who don’t mind a bit of chop with their offshore flow.

Thursday, the 10th, is similar but a touch smaller—4 ft to 5 ft—with clean, moderate offshore breezes. The energy drops below 311, so it’s more of a cruiser session.

From Friday the 11th through to around Tuesday the 15th, things go quiet. We’re talkin’ swell heights under 4 ft, with combined energy mostly in the 100-200 range. There’s a few clean moments, like the glassy Sunday afternoon on the 13th with 3 ft from the S and a 10-second period, but honestly, it’s more for a longboard or a sunset paddle than a proper surf session. The 13th is your best bet in this lull—light winds, clean, glassy surface, and a little 3 ft south swell. It’s tiny, but it’s pretty.

Then, from Wednesday the 16th through to the end of the forecast on Monday the 21st, it’s pretty much a write-off. The swell fades to under 3 ft, the combined energy drops below 50 for a few days, and onshore winds or thunderstorms dominate. There’s a tiny bump on the 20th—Sunday afternoon—with a 4 ft short-period SW swell, but it’s only 6 seconds and the energy is a weak 126. Not worth getting excited about.

So, to sum it up: Sunday the 6th is the absolute standout, especially the afternoon with that 8 ft, clean, cross-off swell. That’s the one for the advanced crew. After that, it’s a slow decline into small, clean but marginal conditions, and then a week of flatness and poor wind. Keep an eye on the forecasts; sometimes a blank run like this can turn around quickly for this area.

Rusty.

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