Papa Tangaroa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, and I’ve got the look for this stretch of coast. We’ve only got one spot lighting up the forecast, and it’s a proper reef setup for the heavy crew. The next 16 days start with a bit of a dud, but there’s a solid window of cleaner swell coming in, if you’re patient.

Right now, we’re looking at Papa Tangaroa (Tanga-Roa). The water temp is sitting about average for the time of year, nothing weird there. For the first couple of days, Friday the 31st of July and Saturday the 1st of August, the swell is there at 7ft to 8ft from the WSW, but the wind is a stiff cross-offshore at 19 mph. It’s keeping the surface clean, but the energy is just a bit messy and the tide is playing games. The combined energy is solid, though, hitting 1016 to 1882 (moderate to strong), but it’s just not coming together for a good score.

Then comes Sunday, the 2nd of August. That’s the one to circle. The wind drops to a light breeze, swinging to a cross-off from the WNW at just 6 mph, and the swell settles to 6ft from the W with a 12-second period. The combined energy is pumping at 1770 (strong). Conditions are described as excellent for experienced surfers. This is the standout window. The morning session is where it’s at – clean, powerful, and that reef will be working. Monday the 3rd still has some clean early action with a 6ft SW swell, but the period jumps to 17 seconds, which is a very long groundswell. That’ll connect well on this reef, but the cross-off wind picks up to 16 mph, so it won’t be as glassy as Sunday.

After Monday afternoon, the wind turns nasty. From Monday afternoon through to the 10th of August, it’s a mess. Strong onshore and cross-onshore winds from the SSE and ESE, with the swell climbing to 10ft and more. That’s big, heavy, and blown out – only for the absolute experts, and even then, it’s a battle. The combined energy hits 4588 on Monday afternoon, which is very strong, but the poor surf conditions make it unrideable for a good wave.

There’s a bit of a gap in the quality, but the 11th of August (Tuesday) shows some promise. The swell is 13ft from the WSW with a 14-second period, and the combined energy is a massive 6537 (very strong). The wind is a moderate cross-shore, so it’s going to be lumpy and heavy, but the score is a 5 – the best of the whole run. That’s a big, powerful groundswell, and if you’re a seasoned charger on a reef, it could be a wild session. It’s a standout for the second week, but it’s a long-range call, so keep an eye on it.

After that, the 12th and 13th of August see more onshore winds and 10ft to 12ft SW swell, with the energy staying strong (over 3500), but it’s just too messy. The 14th and 15th tail off with similar conditions.

Bottom line: Sunday the 2nd of August is your best bet for a clean, powerful session on the reef with the light wind. If you’re a hardcore charger, the 11th of August is the big-wave window, but it’ll be a battle with the chop. The rest of the run is a write-off for clean waves.

Stay safe, and don’t get caught inside on that big stuff.

Rusty.

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