The Jetty Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, mates. Rusty here. Let's talk about The Jetty. The water's warm, 78°F, which is a fair bit toastier than normal for this time of year, so that's a nice touch.

The first week is a total write-off. From Tuesday the 18th right through to Friday the 21st, it's tiny and messy. We're talking swells of 0.7ft to 2ft, and the wind is coming from every direction except the right one. The energy is weak, numbers like 33 and 25, so there's nothing doing.

Saturday the 22nd picks up a bit of size, 3ft to 4ft from the east, but it's short-period and lumpy with a fresh cross-onshore wind. Energy climbs to 52 and 83, but it's choppy and horrible. You'd be better off with a kite. Sunday the 23rd is more of the same with onshore winds and a storm risk.

Monday the 24th gets a clean window with a light cross-offshore wind and a 2ft south swell. The afternoon is "surfable but very ordinary". It's clean, but the swell is tiny and the period is 12 seconds, meaning long waits between sets. It's a paddle, but it's not a standout.

From the 26th of August, the energy starts to build. The 26th has a 1.0ft to 1ft southeast swell with a very long 16-second period, and the energy hits 110 in the afternoon. The 27th is similar, 0.5m swell (2ft) with a 13-second period and energy of 129. The wind is light cross-on in the morning, but gets choppier later.

The best bet is the very end of the run. Sunday the 30th of August has a 3ft southeast swell with a 12-second period, and the combined energy is a solid 305. That's the biggest energy reading of the entire forecast. The wind is a moderate cross-shore from the northeast, so it'll be a bit bumpy, but it's the best on offer. The Jetty is a sandbar that's fairly exposed to the southeast, and it's fairly consistent, though crowds can be a problem sometimes. This is the one to circle on the calendar, but it's eleven days out, so don't book the day off work just yet.

The 31st of August is okay, with a 2ft to 2ft swell and lighter wind, but the energy drops back to 98 and 78. Then the first of September goes completely flat and weak again.

So, the honest take is there's no perfect day. The standout is Sunday the 30th, with the biggest swell and the most energy. The rest is a long stretch of flat, windy, or just plain average conditions. For a spot that's usually fairly consistent, this is a dry spell, but it'll come good again.

Rusty.

Read more