Tennis Courts Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s happening for the next couple of weeks.

We’ve got a slow start, but there’s some hope later. The real standout is going to be around the 20th, with a clean, glassy day. After that, we get some size, but the wind turns it into a battle.

The spot to watch is Tennis Courts. It’s an exposed reef, for advanced surfers only, and it’s fairly consistent. On Monday the 17th, there’s a small 3ft S swell with a moderate cross-offshore breeze. The combined energy is moderate at 656, but the surf is marginal and tide-dependent. Water temp is 81°, pretty average for this time of year.

Tuesday the 18th is a total loss – poor conditions. Wednesday the 19th is even smaller, with 2ft to 1ft SW swells. Not worth paddling out.

Now, Thursday the 20th is the day. Both morning and afternoon show clean 2ft SSW swell. The wind drops right off – a light breeze turning to almost nothing (3 mph) in the afternoon. The swell period is very long, 17 to 18 seconds, giving the waves real shape and push. Energy is moderate at 279 and 322. This is the standout for small-wave gear – clean, glassy, and that long-period groundswell will wrap in perfectly on the reef. It’s not for beginners, but for an advanced surfer on a longboard or a fish, this is prime. Crowds can show up here sometimes, so get in early.

Friday the 21st is a step down – a light cross-shore breeze and a slightly smaller swell. Still a few fun ones, but not as good.

Saturday the 22nd morning has more energy (370), but the wind picks up, and by the afternoon a fresh breeze (22 mph) makes a mess. Sunday the 23rd is worse – the swell jumps to 6ft from the ENE, but with a short, weak period of 6-7 seconds, plus fresh wind. That’s a no-go.

From Monday the 24th all the way through to Sunday the 31st, the swell gets big but ugly. Heights run from 7ft up to 10ft, with a short period (7-9 seconds) from the ENE/E. The combined energy gets strong, hitting values like 1617 and 1890. But the wind is strong – fresh to strong breeze, 19-25 mph, and it’s cross-offshore. This creates choppy, blown-out conditions. The reef might hold, but with that short period, it’s a washing machine. Honestly, this stretch looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. Only for experts if you’re tough, and even then, it’s a grind.

The run fades at the end. Monday the 31st and Tuesday the 1st of September drop back to 3ft to 3ft, but the wind is howling at 22-28 mph. Not worth it.

So, to sum it up: your best bet is Thursday the 20th of August at Tennis Courts. Clean, glassy, super long-period S/SW swell, light winds. That’s the one. The second week brings size but nasty wind – keep an eye on it, but right now it’s not looking clean for a paddle.

Stay stoked, and check the tides.

- Rusty

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