Takegashima Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. We’ve got a slow start for Takegashima, with a couple of days of barely rideable slop before things start to clean up. The real fire comes in the second week, so don’t write this one off yet.

The first few days are a write-off for a proper paddle. Thursday 13th and Friday 14th of August, we’re looking at tiny, wind-affected waves – think 1ft to 2ft with cross and cross-on winds and a lot of stormy weather about. The combined energy is weak (48 to 110), so it’s a good time to stay on the beach or get the fishing gear out. Saturday 15th shows a brief glimmer: a glassy morning with 2ft swell from the south at 10 seconds, but it’s still weak (140). It’s surfable, but you wouldn’t call it good.

Sunday 16th into Monday 17th brings a bump in size – around 3ft to 4ft – but the period is short (6 seconds) and the winds are messy, leaving it choppy and ordinary. The energy is moderate (258-263), but the quality just isn’t there. Another quiet spell hits from Tuesday 18th through Wednesday 19th, with tiny waves and marginal conditions. A lot of us will be twiddling our thumbs.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Thursday 20th of August is the first proper standout. A glassy morning with 4ft from the southeast at 9 seconds, and the combined energy jumps to 231. That’s clean, shoulder-high fun with no wind ruining it. The next day, Friday 21st of August, is even better: glassy all day, 4ft to 4ft from the south at 9 seconds, and the energy bumps to 317-359. Light offshore winds too. For a reef break like Takegashima, that’s a cracking little window of clean, lined-up waves. Crowds can be a factor here sometimes, so get in early.

The weekend of the 22nd and 23rd drops right off again – small, onshore slop. Don’t bother. Monday 24th stays tiny but clean with glassy conditions and 1ft to 2ft from the southeast, though the period is long (13 seconds), which can make it fat.

Then we hit the big show. Tuesday 25th of August is a serious standout. Glassy, clean, 7ft from the east-southeast with a long 14-second period – that’s groundswell with proper punch. The combined energy is a massive 1960, so there’s a lot of water moving. This is expert territory; over 8ft soon, it’s for experienced surfers only. Wednesday 26th holds at 6ft with a clean, glassy morning (1235 energy), and then Thursday 27th sees 8ft from the east-southeast with a very long 15-second period and 2644 energy. Clean again, but this is big, powerful reef stuff.

The absolute highlight, though, is Friday 28th of August. This is the day to circle. We’re talking 16ft to 18ft from the east-southeast with a 15-second period, offshore winds from the south-southwest, and combined energy reading 11552 to 14823. That’s exceptional, world-class level for experts. The guidance says the optimum swell direction is east, and this is east-southeast – bang on. It’s a reef break, so those long-period groundswell lines will wrap in beautifully. Beginners, stay well away. This is one for the chargers only.

Water temperature is around 84°F, which is about average for the time of year with a slight warm anomaly of 2°.

So to sum it up: Thursday 20th and Friday 21st of August are your clean, fun-sized windows for the average surfer. The real standout is Friday 28th of August – massive, clean, and world-class, but for experts only. That week-long wait in the middle is tough, but the payoff at the end is worth it.

Rusty.

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