The Spit Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Hey folks, Rusty here with the outlook for The Spit. Gotta be honest, it's looking like a pretty quiet stretch for the next couple of weeks, so don't get your hopes up.

The overall pattern is flat and calm for most of it. From Saturday the 25th of July through the end of the month, the wave energy is tiny. Swell heights are barely cracking 2ft and often sitting around 1ft to 2ft. The energy is weak (values in the 20s to 50s) and the wind is mostly messing things up from the E/SE, keeping it cross-on and choppy. There’s a quick window on Tuesday morning the 28th with glassy conditions, but the swell is a paltry 0.7ft – barely a ripple. Wednesday the 29th sees a clean, gentle offshore from the WNW, but again, it's only 2ft of short-period stuff. Nothing worth paddling out for seriously.

The one standout, the only real blip of energy on the radar, is Friday morning the 31st of July. We get a solid jump in size to 7ft from the SSE, with a moderate 10-second period. The combined wave energy hits 1020, which is a big step up. But here’s the catch – the model itself says this swell is predicted to be too big for The Spit, and the wind is a messy cross-shore. That size (over 5ft) is already pushing it for beginners, and with onshore vibes, this is really only for the experienced crew to maybe scope out if they're desperate. Even then, don't expect much quality.

After that pulse, it drops back down. Saturday the 1st and Sunday the 2nd of August are back to 2ft to 3ft, with the energy still moderate (around 166-191). There’s a glassy session on Sunday morning the 2nd and a clean, cross-off breeze Monday morning the 3rd, but the waves are described as “very ordinary.” It’s surfable but nothing to write home about.

From there, it’s a slow fade. The second week from the 4th of August onward is just a grind of tiny surf with moderate to fresh onshore winds. The swell heights hover around 1.0ft to 5ft, but the wind is from the SSE/SE, keeping it choppy and lumpy. By Wednesday the 5th, we’re back to offshore winds but with only 1.0ft of swell. The energy stays weak. This stretch from the 4th to the 9th is a long gap where there’s really no good recommendation. The water temperature is sitting at 69°, which is about average for the time of year, so at least a wetsuit won't feel like ice.

Bottom line: The Spit is a consistent beginner-friendly river mouth, but there’s just no quality on offer in this window. The only real size comes on July 31st, but it’s sloppy and maybe too big for the spot. If you’re a kite surfer, the breezy, choppy afternoons with that 3ft+ swell might look more interesting than a paddle session. Don’t hold your breath.

Rusty.

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