The Inlet and Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. The only break on the cards for this stretch is The Inlet and Pier – a beach and jetty setup that’s exposed to the swell. The water’s running at 80°F, which is 5°F warmer than normal for this time of year – that’s a real standout, a proper tropical bath for August.

Right now, things are looking flat and messy. Saturday afternoon, 22 August, there’s a risk of thunderstorms with a cross-on SE wind at 12 mph and a tiny 0.7 ft swell from the ESE. The combined energy is weak at 53, and it’s just poor out there. Not worth paddling for.

Sunday 23 August improves a bit – morning brings a clear sky, a light WSW offshore at 9 mph, and the same 0.7 ft ESE swell. The energy drops to 19, but it’s clean. Still, 0.7 ft is barely a ripple. The afternoon stays clean with a NW cross-off at 6 mph, energy down to 16.

Monday 24 August morning is the standout of the first week – glassy conditions, NW wind at just 3 mph, and that 0.7 ft ESE swell. The energy is a measly 18, but with the water like glass, you might catch a little knee-high slider if you’re desperate. The afternoon turns cross-on again.

Tuesday 25 August and Wednesday 26 August stay small – 0.7 ft to 1.0 ft – with light cross-off or cross-on winds. The energy never cracks 27. It’s pretty much a write-off for any real surfing.

Thursday 27 August afternoon sees a tiny bump – 1 ft from the ESE, period 10 seconds, and glassy conditions with zero wind. Energy hits 50. The notes say “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions” – that’s the best we’ve got so far, but it’s still only ankle-high.

Friday 28 August morning is the pick of the first week: a 1 ft ESE swell, WNW offshore at 3 mph, and the energy at 57. Clean, small, but at least it’s offshore. The afternoon turns cross-on again.

From Saturday 29 August through to Monday 1 September, it’s all 0.7 ft to 1 ft with cross or cross-on winds, and the energy never gets above 37. Tuesday 1 September afternoon has a strong offshore WNW wind at 25 mph, but the swell is still 0.7 ft – it’ll be clean but impossible to paddle into.

Then on Wednesday 2 September morning, we get the first real pulse of the whole outlook. The swell jumps to 2 ft from the SE, period 12 seconds, with a NNW cross-off wind at 12 mph. The combined energy hits 108 – that’s moderate energy, the first time we’ve seen three digits. It’s clean, and though the swell is still small, the period is long enough to give it some shape. The energy reading (108) means there’s finally some push. This is the best morning of the entire 16 days, but it’s still only waist-high at best.

After that, Thursday 3 September through to Sunday 6 September sees the swell holding at 1 ft to 2 ft, but the wind turns onshore or cross-on, with ENE and E winds at 9 to 16 mph. The energy ranges from 60 to 64, and the surf is poor. The period drops to 7-8 seconds, so it’s weak and short-period junk.

The bottom line: There’s nothing here that gets the heart pumping. The only real standout is Wednesday 2 September morning – a clean, moderate-energy window with a hint of groundswell. For the rest of the 16 days, it’s flat, small, and mostly wind-affected. If you’re a beginner, the 2 ft days are safe, but don’t expect much. The long gap with no recommendations is essentially the whole first week – from 22 August right through to 2 September, it’s all tiny and ordinary. For a spot that’s very consistent, this is a lean run, but forecasts can change.

Rusty.

Read more