The Spit Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, let’s have a look at what’s on the table for the Spit over the next couple of weeks. I’m not gonna lie, it’s a tough stretch for the wave count. The Spit is a river mouth setup, exposed to the east, so we need some decent E swell with clean winds to get it going. For the first week, it’s mostly a write-off – small, messy, and cross-shore winds are just killing the quality. You’re looking at waves mostly under 3 ft, with weak combined swell energy, and the wind is either cross or cross-onshore, which just makes it lumpy. We do get a glassy moment on Sunday morning, the 26th of July, with 2 ft E swell, but it’s so small it’s barely a ripple. The combined energy is only 70 (weak). The water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing to write home about.

Then we hit the second week, and things start to get a bit more interesting, but it’s not simple. The combined swell energy starts to climb – moderate values in the 200s – and we see swell heights push up to 5 ft on the 2nd of August, but the wind is still cross or cross-onshore, so it’s choppy. There’s a moment on the 3rd of August, Monday morning, where the swell is 5 ft from the ENE, period of 8 seconds, with a gentle cross-shore breeze. The combined energy is 287 (moderate). It’s a marginal call, but it could be rideable for a beginner who’s not too fussy. The Spit is a beginner spot, and anything over 5 ft starts to get a bit much for learners, so keep that in mind.

Now, the true standout, and I mean the one that’s got my heart pumping a little, is Friday the 7th of August. The forecast shows an 8 ft swell from the ENE, period of 8 seconds, with a gentle cross-onshore breeze. The combined energy is a massive 1490 (strong), and it’s rated a perfect 11/10 for the break. But here’s the catch – it’s flagged as “too big for this break.” The Spit is a river mouth, and 8 ft is serious, powerful water. This is strictly for experts only, and you’ll want to be comfortable in heavy, powerful surf. The crowds are likely to be there, as it’s often busy.

Then on Saturday the 8th of August, the swell peaks at 10 ft from the east, with a period of 11 seconds, and the combined energy is a colossal 2425 (very strong). Again, it’s rated perfect for the break, but it’s simply too big for The Spit. This is a big, powerful groundswell, and with that long period, it’s going to be shutting down hard at a river mouth. This is expert-only territory, if anyone even dares.

So, the honest truth? If you’re a beginner, you’re looking at a very quiet two weeks. The best chance for a paddle is Monday morning, the 3rd of August, for a marginal, mushy 5 ft wave. For the experts, the 7th and 8th of August are the only real show in town, but you’ll be surfing a break that’s truly on the edge. It’s a long wait for a very specific, very heavy window.

Rusty.

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