The Inlet and Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Bit of a flat spell we’re looking at for The Inlet and Pier over the next couple of weeks. The truth is, there’s not a single standout session in this 16-day window – the swell just isn’t showing up. We’re stuck with tiny, weak waves for days on end, so if you’re itching for a paddle, you might be better off waiting for the next system to roll in. Don’t write it off completely though; forecasts change, and this spot can fire up again.

Let’s walk through it. Starting Saturday the 22nd of August, we’ve got onshore easterly winds and some rain. The swell is a measly 2 ft from the ENE with a short period of 6 seconds, and the combined energy is a weak 45. The surf is poor, and honestly, it’s not worth a look.

Sunday the 23rd sees a shift – offshore WNW winds at 9 mph blow clean over tiny 1.0 ft ENE swell. The period is only 5 seconds, so it’s weak and gutless, with combined energy at 10. It’s clean, but there’s barely a wave to ride.

Monday the 24th through to Tuesday the 25th stays tiny. The swell hangs around 0.7 ft to 1.0 ft from the ESE, with periods that bounce between 11 and 12 seconds – that’s a bit longer period, but with no height, it doesn’t matter. Winds are light and offshore or cross-offshore, keeping the surface clean, but combined energy stays in the low teens. You’re looking at ankle-biters at best.

Wednesday the 26th morning turns glassy with no wind – the kind of morning that gets your hopes up. But the swell is still only 0.7 ft from the ESE, 11 seconds, and the energy is pitiful at 12. Reminds me of a lake.

Thursday the 27th through Friday the 28th stays much the same. We see a little bump on Friday morning with 1 ft from the ESE, 9 seconds, and combined energy creeping up to 31. The wind is calm and glassy that morning, so it’s beautiful, clean water – just no real push. Friday afternoon gets a bit of cross-shore wind.

The weekend of the 29th and 30th of August brings a shift to a more southerly swell direction – SE at 1 ft to 2 ft, with period dropping to 8 seconds and energy between 18 and 35. But the wind turns cross-onshore from the NE and SE, so it gets a bit choppy. Still, these waves are too small to be fun.

Then on Monday the 31st of August, we get the best of a bad lot. Swell is still tiny at 0.7 ft from the ESE, but the period jumps right up to 19 seconds – that’s a very long period groundswell. Combined energy hits 55, and the wind is cross-offshore from the WSW, keeping it clean. This is the most interesting moment in the whole outlook. For a spot like The Inlet and Pier, a long-period ESE swell like this could wrap in and offer up a few clean, glassy runners. But don’t get carried away – the height is barely there. It’s surfable but very ordinary, and that’s being generous.

Tuesday the 1st of September sees similar tiny, high-period swell (1 ft, 14-15 seconds) with calm or offshore winds. Energy is 63 on the morning and 83 in the afternoon – the highest numbers we see. Still, the waves are too small to generate any real power.

The rest of the forecast into the first week of September just fades away. Wednesday the 2nd sees 1 ft ESE swell, 12 seconds, and energy of 94, but by afternoon the wind picks up. Thursday the 3rd glassy morning, poor conditions. Friday the 4th onshore easterlies blow, and the weekend of the 5th and 6th of September sees the swell drop to almost nothing – 0.3 ft from the SE with weak energy in the single digits.

So bottom line: tiny swell, week-long gaps with no surf worth mentioning, and no standouts. The Inlet and Pier is a beach and jetty setup, very consistent normally, but right now it’s just not happening. The only glimmer is the long-period groundswell on the 31st of August, but even that is too small to get excited about. Stay patient, mate.

Rusty.

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