The Pines Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it for this stretch. Things are looking very unusual for The Pines, so we need to be smart about when to paddle out.

The headline is that we’ve got a classic reef setup that *rarely breaks*, and it’s about to get a serious hammering from a long-period SSW groundswell. The problem is that most of this swell comes with messy wind. The water temp is sitting about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The first real chance to surf starts Saturday, August 10th. It’s a bit of a raw deal though. Monday morning the 12th sees a solid 13ft swell from the SSW with a very long 18-second period, but the wind is howling from the SW at 22 mph, creating a lumpy cross-chop. The energy is monstrous (13282), but it’s going to be a battle. Monday afternoon cleans up a bit, dropping to 8ft from the SSW with a 17-second period and a moderate cross-off breeze. Still, the quality is only marginal.

The real standout for this whole period is Friday morning, August 16th. The swell is still a solid 12ft from the SSW, with a 16-second period, and the energy is significant (6255). But the key here is the wind – it’s a light, 6 mph cross-off from the west. The reef is going to be clean and lined up. This is for experienced surfers only, as 12ft waves on a reef are no joke. It’s the best on offer.

Following that, the swell drops but the wind stays tricky. Saturday the 17th has 8ft swell but onshore and cross-onshore breezes mess it up. After that, we’ve got a few days of smaller, cleaner conditions. Wednesday, August 21st morning brings a 6ft SSW swell with a 17-second period and a moderate cross-off breeze from the NNE. The energy is moderate (2339), but the wind is clean. Wednesday afternoon gets even better with a 5ft swell and a NNW offshore wind at 12 mph. The report says “expect good surf conditions,” so that afternoon session is the call for those who want a safer, more manageable wave.

The later part of the forecast, around the 23rd and 24th, is a bit of a washout with small, weak swell and poor wind. The last noticeable bump is on the 25th of August with a 7ft SW swell, but the wind is a fresh 19 mph from the WSW, making it a mess.

So, to keep it simple: the highlight is Friday, August 16th morning for the big, clean, expert-only waves. For a more user-friendly session, target Wednesday, August 21st afternoon for clean, offshore lines. The Pines is a rare bird, and when it’s good, it’s special.

Rusty, signing off.

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