30th Street/Ship Bottom Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – this 16-day stretch for 30th Street/Ship Bottom is a tough one. We’re looking at a long, dry spell with hardly anything worth paddling out for. The forecast is quiet, and the swell energy is minimal for days on end. There’s a gap of nearly a week with no real surf on offer before we finally see a flicker of life.

Right from the start, Wednesday July 15th through to the end of Sunday July 20th, it’s flat and poor. We’re talking tiny bumps of 0.7 ft to 2 ft with weak combined wave energy (as low as 7 to 22), and most of it is either cross-onshore or onshore. Not worth getting wet for.

Monday July 20th brings a little more energy, with combined wave energy climbing to 124 and 140, but still only 3 ft of swell (SSE, 8 seconds). The wind is messy – cross-shore and cross-off – so conditions are still poor. Still no go.

It’s not until Tuesday July 21st that we see a slight shift. The morning shows 4 ft (S, 8 seconds) with a moderate offshore wind from the WSW, and the water temperature is about average for the time of year. The combined energy hits 136, and the afternoon is similar with 162. It’s surfable, but very ordinary. You might get a few grovelly ones, but it’s nothing to write home about. The break is a beginner-friendly spot, so if you’re learning, it’s a decent window, but for anyone else, it’s a struggle.

Wednesday July 22nd through Friday July 24th, the swell drops back again. Heights hover around 1 ft to 2 ft, and the wind is cross-onshore again. The energy is weak (32 to 72). Another bust.

Saturday July 25th shows a little more size – 4 ft to 4 ft (E and ESE, 5-6 seconds) – but the wind is cross-shore or cross-off. The energy is moderate (80 to 118), but the quality is still poor. The afternoon has a clean look with a light cross-off breeze, but it’s still just surfable, not good.

Now, Sunday July 26th is the one day that stands out as the best on offer. The morning brings 6 ft (S, 7 seconds) with a WNW cross-off breeze, and the combined energy jumps to 449 – that’s the strongest we’ve seen. The waves are clean, and the energy is there. It’s a bit of a raw, short-period swell, so it won’t be perfect, but it’s the most promising session of the whole outlook. The afternoon drops to 4 ft (SSE, 7 seconds) with a light offshore, still clean.

Monday July 27th afternoon is a standout. The swell is 5 ft (S, 8 seconds), combined energy is 377, and the wind goes glassy. That’s a rare treat. For a brief moment, 30th Street will be clean and have some push. It’s a beginner-friendly beach break, so expect a few fun ones, but the short period means it might be a bit crumbly. Still, for this stretch, it’s the best.

Tuesday July 28th and Wednesday July 29th are back to ordinary. 3 ft to 4 ft (SSE, 8 seconds) with light to moderate cross-shore winds. The energy is moderate (130 to 279), but the quality is poor. Not worth the effort.

Thursday July 30th is another letdown. 3 ft (SSE, 8 seconds) with an onshore wind and energy of 117. Poor.

So, the highlight is the Sunday July 26th morning and the Monday July 27th afternoon. The rest? It’s a waiting game. The water’s about average for the time of year, but the lack of solid swell and clean windows is frustrating. Keep your eyes on the forecasts, because this area can turn around quick.

Rusty.

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