The Inlet and Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what The Inlet and Pier has in store for us over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you. The next week and a half is looking pretty grim. We’re staring down a long, dry spell with barely a ripple worth mentioning. The first real chance of anything rideable doesn't show up until Saturday the 12th of September, and even then it's a bit of a stretch.

Let's run through it. The first week is a write-off. Tiny, weak windswell, mostly from the east and northeast, with onshore and cross-shore winds messing up what little there is. We're talking surf heights of 0.7 ft to 2 ft, with combined wave energy barely hitting double digits (14 to 74). The water is a very warm 78°F, which is about 5°F warmer than normal for this time of year, so you'd be comfortable in a spring suit, but there's nothing to ride.

Things finally start to change around Saturday the 12th of September. The swell picks up to 6 ft from the ENE, with a period of 7 seconds. The combined energy jumps to a moderate 295. The wind is a clean cross-off from the N on the morning, which is a positive. However, the swell is a bit short-period and a little punchy for a beach/jetty setup. It's pushing into the intermediate-to-expert size range, but the quality is just "marginal" due to the tide and the short period. This is the best we’ve got in the outlook, but it's still not a classic.

Sunday morning the 13th drops back to 5 ft from the ENE, with a 7-second period and light cross-off wind from the SSW. The energy is still moderate (173). The waves are surfable, but nothing to write home about. The wind stays clean, which is a small mercy.

The following week is a slow fade back to small, weak conditions. Tuesday morning the 15th offers a moment of glassy conditions with a tiny 3 ft swell from the E, but it's a short-period 7-second wave and the energy is low (92). It would be an absolute glass-off for a longboard, but that's about it. The rest of the week is a mix of small, weak swell and onshore crud.

So, the standout window is the morning of Saturday the 12th. It's the biggest swell we'll see, but it's a one-trick pony. 6 ft from the ENE, with a clean cross-off wind. It's a mediocre option at best, but it's the only option. For a beach/jetty break, the short period and the size will make it a bit of a messy, walled-up affair. It's not a beginner's day.

Honestly, mates, this is a tough outlook. For the first 8 days, you're better off doing something else. The pattern is just flat. The second week shows a little more life, but it's nothing reliable. Keep an eye on the charts, but for now, this is a quiet period for The Inlet and Pier.

Rusty.

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