The Wharf Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright crew, Rusty here. Let’s be straight — the next 16 days at The Wharf are a real mixed bag, and honestly, not looking prime for a proper paddle session. This reef break is consistent and handles a solid south swell, but the wind is gonna make you earn every wave.

Right now, Sunday the 6th, the water is a warm 81°F — pretty normal for this time of year. We’ve got a 3ft south swell with a long 13-second period (groundswell) and the combined energy is moderate at 503. The catch is the wind is light cross-onshore at 6 mph, putting small ripples on it. Rideable, but not glassy. By the afternoon, the wind picks up to 12 mph and it gets choppy.

Monday the 7th through Tuesday the 8th, the swell shifts to the SW at 2ft to 3ft, with a very long period of 16 seconds. That’s proper groundswell energy, and at a reef like The Wharf, those long-period waves will wrap in nicely. But the wind stays fresh cross-onshore or onshore at 16 to 19 mph, making for lumpy conditions. Energy is moderate (399 to 598), but the chop ruins it.

Wednesday the 9th through Friday the 11th is more of the same — waist-high SW swell (2ft to 3ft) with that long period, but persistent moderate onshore winds. The energy drops from 606 down to 171, so the push fades. It’s messy and bumpy.

Saturday the 12th brings a small, weak easterly swell at 3ft and 8 seconds — not much to get excited about.

Now here’s where it gets interesting. Starting Sunday the 13th, the swell bumps up. Sunday morning we see 3ft from the SW with a very long 20-second period — energy at 795 — and by the afternoon it’s 3ft with 19 seconds and energy climbing to 924. Wind is still moderate cross-onshore. Then Monday the 14th, we get 5ft from the SSW with 17 seconds and energy surging to 1610 — solid overhead, but with fresh onshore winds up to 19 mph. That’s powerful and purely for experts. Too big for beginners.

The rest of the week keeps the size up. Tuesday the 15th holds 4ft to 4ft with strong energy (1218 to 1580), but the wind stays fresh onshore. Wednesday the 16th peaks at 6ft from the south with 15 seconds; energy hits 1775 — the biggest and most powerful of the window. Expert-only, especially with the chop.

From Thursday the 17th onward, it backs off: 4ft down to 3ft through the weekend, with the wind shifting more cross and cross-onshore. The last days from Saturday the 20th into Monday the 21st see the swell settling at 3ft to 3ft from the SSW/SW with periods around 15 to 16 seconds, and the wind finally drops to a light or gentle cross-shore breeze. Energy is moderate (346 to 558), and conditions start looking marginal but cleaner.

The standout is Wednesday morning, September 16th, when the swell hits 6ft from the south with 15 seconds and energy at 1775. That’s proper power. But it’s expert-only, and the onshore wind will make it a fight. The cleaner, smaller windows near the very end (Monday the 21st) are more realistic for the rest of us.

For most of this run, with the consistent onshore wind, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

Stay patient, keep an eye on the wind, and don’t force it.

Rusty.

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