The Spit Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll be straight with you – this 16-day window for The Spit is a tough one. We’ve got a long stretch of nothing much worth paddling out for, with the first real glimmer of hope not showing up until the 14th of August. Most of the time, the easterly swell is small, weak, and the winds are all over the shop, keeping the surf quality well below average. The good news is that The Spit is a consistent break, so it’s not a total shock to see a run of poor days, and forecasts can change, so don’t give up hope just yet.

Right now, through to the 13th of August, it’s a write-off. The swell is tiny, barely scraping 3 ft, and the combined swell energy is weak – mostly in the 70-170 range. The wind is a mess; cross-onshore, onshore, or just plain strong, leaving the surface choppy and lumpy. There are a couple of glassy moments on the 9th and 11th of August mornings, but the swell is so small (2 ft to 3 ft) and the wave comment is “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions” at best. It’s just not worth it.

Then we get to Friday the 14th of August. This is the one standout. The morning looks promising. We’ve got a 5 ft swell from the SSE, with a 9-second period. The combined swell energy jumps to 621 (moderate wave energy), which is the biggest push we see. The wind is glassy, and the wave comment says “expect very good surf conditions”. For a river mouth like The Spit, that SSE swell direction is a good match for the optimum easterly direction, and the glassy conditions will make it clean. The water temperature is 69°, which is about normal for this time of year, so no need for a thick suit. This is the best on offer, full stop. Keep in mind, though, the swell is over 5 ft, so it might be a bit much for beginners, and the 9-second period is alright but not a long-period groundswell, so it’ll have a bit more push than the tiny stuff we’ve been seeing.

After that, it’s back to the grind. Saturday the 15th through to the 22nd of August is a mix of small, weak swells and strong, onshore winds. The swell is mostly under 3 ft, sometimes hitting 5 ft, but the wind is from the south or southeast, often cross or cross-onshore and fresh, creating lumpy, choppy conditions. The combined swell energy is moderate at times (like 409 on the 20th of August morning), but the wind keeps it ugly. Honestly, the conditions on the 20th look more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing, with fresh cross-onshore winds and a 5 ft swell. The afternoon of the 21st of August has a 12-second period swell, but it’s only 2 ft and cross-onshore, so it’s a no-go.

So, the call is simple: if you want a surf, keep your eyes on the morning of the 14th of August. That’s your window. The rest of the time, you’re better off waiting for the next forecast update.

Rusty.

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