Takegashima Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, this is Rusty.

Let’s be honest – the next week and a half at Takegashima is mostly a bit of a dud. It’s a reef setup that’s only for advanced crew, and for the first several days the swell is way too small and weak to get fired up about. We’re looking at southeast windswell that barely hits 3 ft, and the combined wave energy is pretty weak – mostly under 100 (77 to 237) until Friday afternoon. The water temp is 83°F, which is about average for this time of year, so nothing wild there.

Tuesday 18 August afternoon brings a tiny 3 ft SE swell with a short 5-second period and a light cross-off SSE breeze – surfable but very ordinary. Wednesday 19 August is similar, with 2 ft ESE swell, the morning cross shore and the afternoon a light cross-off. Nothing inspiring. Thursday 20 August is dead flat – 1 ft with glassy conditions in the morning, but the swell’s too small to bother. Friday 21 August morning stays small and glassy with 3 ft S swell, period 9 seconds, energy 146 – still weak. The afternoon picks up a touch to 3 ft from the south, period 10 seconds, combined energy 237 – it’s clean with a light cross-off breeze, and that’s about the best of this first week, but it’s hardly pumping.

Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 August drop right back to 1–1 ft, period 10–11 seconds, energy as low as 25 to 49. Glassy mornings but absolutely tiny. Monday 24 August is similar – 1–2 ft, energy 62–64. The whole stretch from Tuesday 18 to Monday 24 August is a write-off for any decent surf.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Tuesday 25 August morning we see a jump – 3 ft SE swell but the period leaps to 16 seconds (long period groundswell) and combined energy hits 491. Problem is the wind goes onshore from the NE at 9 mph, so it’s messy. That afternoon the swell rises to 5 ft (energy 947) but onshore NE wind picks up to 12 mph – still poor for surfing.

Wednesday 26 August morning gets bigger – 8 ft SSE swell, 14-second period, energy a chunky 2475 – but onshore NE wind at 12 mph ruins it. The afternoon sees 8 ft with a strong cross-onshore breeze at 16 mph – that’s chop city. For a reef break, this is ugly. If you’re a kite surfer, it might look interesting.

Then we hit the real standout. Thursday 27 August – glassy conditions both morning and afternoon, with the wind dropping to 3 mph from the NNE and going glass. Morning swell sits at 8 ft from the SSE with a very long 15-second period, combined energy over 3103. Afternoon it bumps to 10 ft SSE, 16-second period, energy 4362. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers – clean, powerful, and lined up. The direction (SSE) is a bit off optimum (E), but the quality of the swell and the glassy conditions make it a proper session.

Friday 28 August is the absolute top of the window. Morning: 12 ft from the south, 16-second period, glassy NNE breeze at 3 mph, energy a massive 5647. Afternoon: same 12 ft swell, but the wind goes dead calm at 0 mph from the south, glassy as you like, energy 5686. This is exceptional for expert surfers – very long period groundswell, clean, and powerful. That south swell will wrap nicely into this reef, and the lack of wind will give you perfect lines.

Saturday 29 August stays solid – 10 ft S swell, 14-second period, energy 3630–3948. Morning is glassy with a light ENE breeze, afternoon is clean with a light cross-off from the south. Still excellent for experienced surfers.

Sunday 30 August drops to 7 ft SE swell with a short 8–9 second period, energy 604–732. Glassy in the morning but the period’s dropped, so the shape won’t be as good. The afternoon has a light cross-shore breeze – marginal.

Monday 31 August sees onshore ENE wind picking up to 9–12 mph, and 7 ft SE swell – poor conditions. Into Tuesday 1 and Wednesday 2 September, the swell stays 7–10 ft but with onshore and cross-onshore northerly winds, and energy up to 2185 – just messy for the reef.

So, the true standouts are Thursday 27 and Friday 28 August. That’s the call – glassy, powerful groundswell, expert-only. The rest is mostly either too small or blown out. Get on it if you’re keen.

Rusty.

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