The Inlet and Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get real about the next couple of weeks. It’s pretty bleak out there for a while. We’re looking at a long stretch of tiny, messy waves at The Inlet and Pier (Big Island). The water’s sitting at 80°, which is much warmer than usual for this time of year, so that’s a bit of a silver lining for a swim, but not for a surf.

The next week is going to be a write-off. From the 15th through to the 20th, we've got almost nothing on offer. Swell heights are hovering around that 0.3ft to 2ft mark with periods all over the shop, mostly under 8 seconds. That’s just wind chop stuff. The energy is weak as hell, with combined readings barely getting past 43. Winds are mostly onshore or cross, so it’s going to be gutless and lumpy. Thursday the 20th might get a bit clean with a light offshore, but there’s only 0.7ft of swell. Not worth paddling out for.

Then we get a little pulse around Friday the 21st. The swell bumps up slightly to 3ft from the NE, with a period of 6 seconds. Still short period, but the morning is cross-shore and the afternoon turns offshore and clean. It says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” The combined energy reads 88 in the morning and 64 in the afternoon. That is still weak. It’s the only thing that might get you wet for a wave or two, but don’t expect any kind of quality. It'll be a grovel at best.

After that, we’re back to nothing for the next several days. The 22nd through the 25th are all showing flat to 1ft of swell. The winds are a mix of cross and cross-on, with some clean offshore moments on the 25th. But again, there is no wave to ride. It’s just a lake out there, but the wind may be nice for a picnic.

Now, looking further out, there’s a more interesting pulse arriving around the 29th and 30th of August. The swell finally starts to push up, with the 29th showing 3ft to 4ft from the ESE with an 8-second period. The energy readings jump to 144 and 156, which is finally moderate. Winds are cross-shore, so it’s going to be a bit bumpy. That’s not the standout though. That’s Sunday the 30th. We’re looking at 4ft to 5ft from the ESE with a period of 7 to 8 seconds. The combined energy is up to 181 in the morning and 199 in the afternoon. It’s still a short-period swell, so it’ll be a bit crumbly, but the wind finally swings around to a light cross-offshore, and the afternoon is described as clean. This is the best of the whole window, and it’s not saying much. It’s a punchy, grindy little beach break, not a classic by any means. But after this dry spell, you’ll take it. It’s still under 8ft, but at 5ft, it’s getting a little much for total beginners.

The long-range call for the 30th is promising but less certain. It’s a week and a half away, so don’t book your day off yet. But if that swell fills in and the wind holds, there will be some fun, punchy little waves to be had at The Inlet and Pier. It’ll be crowded if people are as desperate as I think they’ll be.

Rusty.

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