The Spit Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for The Spit over the next couple of weeks. It’s a pretty bleak run, to be honest. The next week and a half is mostly a write-off, with very little to get excited about. After that, there’s a small window that might just offer something, but you’ll need to be patient.

The pattern is dominated by weak, short-period wind swell and persistent onshore or cross-shore winds. The water temp is sitting at 69°, which is about average for this time of year, so nothing unusual there.

The first real chance of anything rideable doesn't show up until Wednesday morning, September 2nd. We’ve got a tiny 2ft swell from the east with a 10-second period, and what’s important here is a light northwesterly cross-offshore wind. The combined energy is weak (84), but the wind will clean it right up. Even though it’s small, it’ll be surfable, just very ordinary.

Then Thursday morning, September 3rd, is similar. Another small pulse, 1ft from the east at 9 seconds, but again the wind swings northwest, giving us a clean, glassy surface. Energy is pretty much non-existent (53), so you’ll be on a log or a foamie, but it’ll be the best of a bad lot.

After that, the week of September 7th sees a bit more swell energy. Monday afternoon, September 7th, the wind finally goes offshore from the west-northwest, and we get a 3ft southeast swell with a 10-second period. The combined energy jumps to 210, which is moderate. This is actually the best on offer. The swell direction (SE) is right in the sweet spot for The Spit, a river mouth that can handle it. Expect clean, lined-up waves from a moderate offshore breeze. It’s small but offers the best quality in the whole forecast.

Now, one to watch – but don’t bank on it – is the period around September 8th and 9th. We see a long-period groundswell, 15 seconds, pushing in from the southeast. The catch is, it’s tiny (1-2ft) and gets absolutely hammered by strong onshore winds. Energy picks up to 175, but the wind conditions are foul. For the experienced crew, those long-period lines sometimes wrap in cleaner at the river mouth, but with onshore, choppy conditions, it’s a no-go for most.

Overall, this stretch favors the standard shortboard or a fish, but honestly, the swell is so small and the conditions so inconsistent that you can’t be picky. There’s a dry spell for the first 4 days, then a few tiny, clean windows. The standout? Monday afternoon, September 7th for the offshore winds and that moderate-energy SE swell. If you’re desperate, the Wednesday 2nd or Thursday 3rd mornings with the light offshore will at least get you wet. Daylight’s wasting, but so is the swell.

Rusty.

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