The Jetty Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into it. The Jetty is our only option in this entire 16-day window, and I have to be honest with you – it’s a rough stretch. We’re looking at a solid blank run for most of the first week with no real surf to speak of. The first few days are a write-off. You’ll be waiting until Wednesday the 22nd of July before anything even remotely interesting shows up, and even then, it’s a marginal call.

The water temp is sitting at 77° at the start, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so the water feels good, but the waves are just not cooperating.

Let’s break it down. The Jetty is a sandbar break, beginner-friendly, and fairly consistent when it’s on, but it’s also exposed to the SSE swell. The problem is the swell direction is coming from the SSE, which is the optimum direction for this spot, but the size and wind are all wrong.

The first real pulse of energy hits on Wednesday morning, the 22nd of July. We get a 5 ft swell from the S, with a period of 8 seconds, producing moderate wave energy (228). The wind is WSW cross-off and clean, so the surf will be clean, but the swell is short-period and the quality is poor. It’s a frustrating session – you’ll get a few closeouts but nothing worth paddling out for. The afternoon improves slightly to 5 ft from the SSE, with a period of 8 seconds and stronger energy (300), but the wind swings cross-shore and the report says it’s marginal. It’s not a total loss, but it’s not a standout either.

The only potential standout in this whole outlook is Wednesday the 29th of July. That morning we get a 3 ft swell from the SSE, but with a 10-second period that gives it a bit more push, and the energy is moderate (185). The wind is WSW cross-off, so it’s clean. The afternoon is even better for the conditions: 3 ft from the SSE, 9-second period, with light W cross-off winds and lots of energy (131). The report says "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions," which is honestly the best we’re going to get. Thursday the 30th morning also offers a chance: 3 ft from the SSE, 8-second period, with a light NNW offshore wind. That’s clean, glassy conditions, and the energy is low (77), but it’s the cleanest window of the whole period. For a beginner spot, this is your best bet.

After that, it’s back to small, weak, and choppy or onshore junk for the rest of the forecast. The swell drops to 2 ft and stays there, with periods of 6-7 seconds. The wind is either cross-on or cross-off, but the energy is weak (31-99). It’s a real downer.

Look, I’m not going to sugarcoat it: this is a lean run. The Jetty is inconsistent, and when it’s not working, it’s not working. The only windows worth checking are the 29th and 30th of July, but don’t expect a classic. If you’re a beginner, the Thursday morning with the offshore wind might be your only chance to get a few ankle-biters in clean conditions. Everyone else, maybe give it a miss and wait for the next swell.

Rusty.

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