Papa Tangaroa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, let’s talk about what’s coming up for us at Papa Tangaroa (Tanga-Roa).

First up, we’re in for a bit of a rough patch. The water temperature is sitting at about 69°, which is roughly 2° warmer than usual for this time of year – nothing crazy, just a little warmer than average.

The start of the period is looking pretty grim. Sunday and Monday mornings are a write-off – we’ve got a big, powerful swell pumping in, with combined energy readings hitting 1928 and even 9738 (that’s some serious energy), but the wind is cross-onshore and choppy, and the surf quality is just poor. It’s not for paddling, it’s more kite-surfing territory. That big 13ft swell on Monday morning is too big for anyone but experts anyway, and even then, the onshore breeze will ruin it.

We do get a bit of a break on Tuesday, 1st September, but it’s still messy with 10ft to 12ft swell and cross-onshore wind. The middle of the week is average at best – small windows of onshore wind but nothing to get excited about.

Now, here’s a standout for those who can wait. On Tuesday, 8th September, we get a real treat. The early morning is glassy – wind from the WNW at just 3 mph, coming from offshore. That’s clean, smooth conditions. The swell is a solid 8ft from the SW, period of 13 seconds, and combined energy of 2026 – that’s a lot of power. It’s a bit much for beginners, but for experienced surfers, this is the best we’ll see. The afternoon cleans up even more with a light cross-offshore breeze. The swell direction is right on the money from the south – perfect for this reef.

After that, the surf drops off a bit. Thursday and Friday, 11th and 12th September, have some cleaner moments but the swell drops to 4ft to 6ft, and the wind picks up strong from the north. The 12th sees a 25 mph offshore wind, which makes it clean but hard to paddle into. The following week looks smaller and more inconsistent, with combined energy dropping to around 600-900, and the wind staying cross-onshore or strong.

So, if you’re after the best of the bunch, mark Tuesday, 8th September. That morning glass-off with 8ft, long-period SW swell is your window. The rest is a bit of a waiting game.

Rusty.

Read more