The Spit Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. The forecast period’s a bit of a mixed bag, but we’ve got a few windows to work with. The water’s sitting at 70°, right on the money for this time of year—nothing unusual there.

Starting off with The Spit (river mouth, exposed to the east). The first few days are a write-off. Monday and Tuesday are a bust—poor conditions, messy winds, and tiny weak swell. The energy’s barely registering. You’re looking at a gap of a few days where it’s just not worth paddling out.

Wednesday morning, 9 September, things calm down a touch. There’s a brief window with glassy conditions and a tiny 2ft SE swell, period around 9 seconds. It’s clean, but the energy’s weak (80) and the waves are ordinary. A beginner might get a few ankle-biters, but that’s about it.

Then we hit a stretch from Thursday through the weekend where the swell picks up—5ft to 6ft from the SE—but the wind is cross or cross-onshore, and the conditions are lumpy and choppy. The energy jumps into the moderate range (238 to 702), but the quality just isn’t there. Not worth chasing.

The next real glimmer comes on Tuesday, 15 September. Morning glass-off with a light NNW cross-offshore breeze. The swell’s tiny—3ft from the east, with a short 6-second period—but it’s clean. Energy’s still low (59), but if you’re desperate for a slide, this is your window. It’s surfable but ordinary.

Now, here’s the standout: Friday, 18 September. That morning, the swell’s forecast to pump at 10ft from the SSE, with a period of 10 seconds. The energy reading is massive—2384 (strong). But—and this is a big but—the data notes that the swell is predicted to be too big for this break. That’s expert territory, and even then, with a fresh cross-shore breeze making it lumpy, it’s going to be a handful. If you’re a seasoned charger and know this spot, it could be a session, but it’s not for the faint-hearted.

After that, the swell drops back. Saturday and Sunday, 19-20 September, bring a cleaner vibe. Sunday morning, 20 September, is glassy with a 3ft SE groundswell (11-second period). Energy’s moderate (147), and the waves will have some shape, but it’s not firing.

The last few days into the second week are small and weak—energy values dropping into the 30s and 40s. Winds vary, but it’s mostly poor or ordinary. Nothing to get excited about.

So, the one true standout? Friday, 18 September, if you’re an expert and can handle the size and the lumpy cross-shore. Otherwise, the best clean surf is on the 15th and 20th—small, but at least you’ll have a wave to yourself. The Spit is consistent, but this run is mostly poor. It won’t stay like this forever.

Rusty.

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