The Inlet and Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Yo, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you: we’re looking at a rough run ahead. The whole 16-day stretch is thin, and most of it is borderline flat or just messy. If you’re desperate for a paddle, there are a couple of afternoons that might get you wet, but nothing to get excited about.

The best—and really the only—break on the cards is The Inlet and Pier. It’s a beach and jetty setup, very consistent, but it’s exposed to the swell and the optimum direction is from the NE. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing weird going on there.

Right off the bat, Saturday 4 July morning starts glassy with a tiny 1ft SE swell, period 9 seconds, but the combined energy is weak (21). It’s just not doing anything. That pattern sticks: Sunday 5 July has 1.0ft, Monday 6 July has bumpy 2ft, and Tuesday 7 July morning cleans up with a light offshore but the swell drops to 0.7ft. That’s a long stretch of nothing.

Wednesday 8 July through Friday 10 July stays poor—small, cross-shore winds, combined energy never cracking 41. Saturday 11 July is flat with 0.3ft. Then Sunday 12 July afternoon shows a flicker: 3ft from the east, period a short 5 seconds, but offshore wind from the WSW at 12 mph cleans it up. Combined energy is moderate (53). The comment says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” That’s your best chance in the first week—and it’s still ordinary.

Monday 13 July through Wednesday 15 July goes back to small and choppy. Then Thursday 16 July morning brings another offshore moment: 3ft from the NNE, period 5 seconds, light offshore wind, clean face, combined energy moderate (50). Again, the comment reads “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” That’s the other standout in the second week.

After that, Friday 17 July to Sunday 19 July fades back to tiny waves, mostly 0.7ft to 2ft, with onshore or cross-shore winds. The last day, Sunday 19 July morning, has a 0.3ft swell but a long period of 13 seconds—combined energy just 4. Too small to ride.

So here’s the deal: there are two half-decent windows—Sunday 12 July afternoon and Thursday 16 July morning—where you might get a few knee- to waist-high waves in clean conditions. For the rest, you’re looking at flat spells and poor quality. No standout surf, no big swell. If you’re a kite surfer, those moderate offshore breezes and small, clean waves might look more interesting than paddle surfing. For the rest of us, it’s a waiting game—but it tends not to stay this poor forever.

Rusty.

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