The Inlet and Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it. We’ve got a long 16-day window ahead, but I’ll be honest with you right from the start – it’s a tough stretch for The Inlet and Pier. The first real chance to even think about a paddle comes on Sunday the 13th, and even then it’s not much to write home about. There’s a big gap of quiet, small surf and rippy conditions before that, and after that, we’re mostly looking at onshore junk and building, messy wind swell. Don’t get your hopes up too high for a classic session.

The Inlet and Pier is a beach/jetty setup, exposed to the swell, which usually means it can handle a bit of size, but the wind and the quality of the swell are the real story here. The water is running a very warm 78° right now, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year – feels like a bit of a tropical bath, for better or worse.

Looking at the first few days, Wednesday the 9th has a bit of knee-high swell, 3 ft, but it’s from the S with a short, choppy 4-second period, and a cross-off wind that’s more like a fresh breeze. The combined energy is a weak 42. It’s not really surfable. Thursday the 10th and Friday the 11th are even smaller, with next to no energy. Saturday the 12th stays small and messy with onshore winds. It’s a flat spell, no question.

Sunday the 13th morning is the first time I’d call it “surfable.” We’ve got a tiny 3 ft of SE swell, 5-second period, but the wind is a light WSW cross-off and nearly glassy. The combined energy is still weak at 54. It’s clean, but you’d be on a longboard, and it’s barely worth the wetsuit. The afternoon goes back to poor.

Then we hit another flat lull. Monday the 14th through Wednesday the 16th is all sub-2 ft, with onshore or cross-shore wind. It’s a frustrating run of days where the forecast is just a big “don’t bother.” The energy stays in the low teens to 60s.

Now, Thursday the 17th and Friday the 18th tease a bit. Thursday the 17th has a long-period 13-second ESE groundswell, but it’s only 0.7 ft, with a cross-on wind. The period is long, so the potential is there for a better shaped wave if it ever had size, but it doesn’t. Friday the 18th morning is interesting – glassy conditions, 2 ft from the NE with a 6-second period, and the energy is still weak at 49. It’s clean, but small. That’s the best of a bad bunch for the first week.

The second week looks more active but dirtier. Saturday the 19th afternoon sees a jump to 5 ft from the ENE, with a 6-second period and moderate cross-on wind. The energy hits 213, so it’s moderate, but the wind is onshore, so it’s going to be choppy. Sunday the 20th is a bit better – 5 to 5 ft, 8-second period from the E, with gentle cross-on wind. The energy is strong (252 to 514), but it’s still a beach break with a cross-on wind. The waves will have some push, but they’ll be lumpy. For a stronger surfer, it might be okay for a messy session, but it’s not a standout. Wednesday the 23rd afternoon brings a 6 ft, 6-second ENE swell, onshore wind, and moderate energy (226). Again, not clean.

The only real size spike comes Thursday the 24th: 7 ft from the ENE, 8-second period, with a fresh cross-on wind. The energy is very strong (813). That’s expert territory size-wise, but with the wind, it’s going to be a washing machine. The Inlet and Pier setup is more for paddle surfing, but with that much wind and that kind of lumpy, strong swell, it’d be more interesting for the kite crew than anyone else.

Honestly, we don’t have a true standout here. The best on offer is the glassy morning of Friday the 18th, but it’s tiny. The next best is the stronger, wind-affected swell of Sunday the 20th, but it’s not clean. If you’re desperate, you could scratch around on the 13th or 18th, but keep your expectations low. The break is very consistent, so it’s not a dead zone, but this run is a poor one. It’s a long 16 days with very little to get excited about.

Rusty.

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