Takegashima Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks. It is a bit of a mixed bag, but there are a couple of windows that might just get the heart pumping.

The week starts off pretty ordinary. On Tuesday the 8th we’ve got some S swell around 4.3ft to 5.2ft, but the wind state is messy and the wave comment calls it marginal. A bit of energy behind it, but not much to write home about. Best to wait.

Now, Wednesday the 9th is where it gets interesting – the standout of this whole period. Wednesday morning, the wind turns glassy from the SSE at just 3.1 mph and the swell jumps to a solid 8.2ft from the SSE at 9 seconds. The combined energy is strong. This is an advanced wave at Takegashima, a reef set-up. This kind of long-period groundswell really likes this reef. This is for experienced surfers only – over 8.2ft is expert territory. The water temperature is not mentioned as an anomaly, so it’s about average for this time of year. Wednesday afternoon stays clean with a cross-offshore breeze, but the swell pushes to 9.8ft. That’s a big, powerful wave, still only for the skilled. The crowd factor says "sometimes" busy, so you might have a few others in the lineup, but that’s the price for a day like this.

Thursday the 10th drops right off; the swell drops to 4.3ft and the wind shifts to a poor cross-onshore. No good. Friday the 11th improves slightly with a glassy morning, but the swell is only 3.3ft and the energy is weak. Saturday and Sunday are tiny, with waves under 2.3ft and low energy.

Then we hit a dry spell. From Monday the 14th, the swell tries to pick up, but the scores are low. Monday afternoon sees a 3.6ft SSE swell with a 10-second period and glassy conditions – small but possible. This is a better option for those who just need a paddle.

Midweek, on Tuesday the 15th, we get 3.9ft ESE swell at 10 seconds, cross-offshore wind. Clean but not big. Wednesday the 16th is tiny again. Thursday the 17th and Friday the 18th are basically flat with poor wind. A real gap of poor conditions.

Now, for the long-range – and this is promising but still a way off. On Monday the 21st of September, the SE swell starts building with a very long period of 16 seconds, hitting 7.2ft by morning and 7.5ft by afternoon. The energy is through the roof. But – and this is a big but – the wind is onshore (NNE). The wave comment says "marginal surf forecast" despite the power. This is a very long period groundswell (over 15 seconds), which at a beach or exposed reef can break too straight. The reef at Takegashima might still shape it up for experts, but the onshore wind will make it messy. Tuesday the 22nd brings even bigger swell – 9.8ft from SE, still a long 16-second period, and huge energy. Again, onshore wind. This is expert-only territory due to the size, and the wind ruins the quality. Wednesday the 23rd is the same story: 9.8ft, long period, onshore. The raw power is there, but the conditions are not.

So, to wrap it up: the absolute best on offer is Wednesday morning, September 9th. That’s your window. Glassy, clean, solid 8.2ft SSE groundswell, strong energy. For the brave and skilled. Everything else in the first week is small or poor. The big pulses in the third week have the size and energy, but the onshore wind is a real problem, so those are for the desperate or those who don't mind a battle.

Keep your eyes on that Wednesday, mate.

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