Tices Sholls Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, grab a coffee and let’s get into it. Rusty here, looking at the whole 16-day picture for the area.

Honestly, the first couple of weeks are a real struggle. We’re looking at a long stretch of very small, weak surf with a lot of onshore or cross-shore wind messing things up. The water temp is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, sitting at 74°F, which is a nice little bonus for your skin but doesn’t do much for the waves.

The only real action on the horizon starts to show up around Wednesday the 3rd of September. That morning, Tices Sholls sees a little bump. Swell is a weak 2ft from the SE, with a period of 9 seconds and a combined energy of just 77 (weak). The wind, however, is a light cross-offshore from the SW, which keeps the surface clean. The commentary says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions,” so it’s not a ripper, but it’s the first time the ocean looks vaguely friendly. The afternoon follows the same pattern—still clean, still tiny. It’s an option for a beginner to get a few knee-high foamies, but there’s no power behind it.

From there, things remain bleak. Scattered moments of offshore wind on Friday the 4th, but the swell is barely a ripple. The window is essentially a write-off until we get to Thursday the 10th of September. That afternoon, the wind finally swings offshore from the W, light, and the swell jumps to 4ft from the S with a period of 7 seconds. The combined energy hits 140 (moderate). The comment again says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions,” but this is the most size we’ve seen. It’s still a short-period swell, so it’ll be a bit lumpy and disorganized, but for a summer spot that’s been flat, it’s a small win.

The very last day of the forecast, Wednesday the 16th of September, the afternoon goes completely glassy—zero wind from the ESE—but the swell is a pathetic 0.3ft with a 13-second period. That’s a ghost swell. The energy is only 16 (weak). It’s beautiful to look at but not worth paddling out for.

Look, I’m not going to sugarcoat it: the only break on offer is Tices Sholls, and it’s a sandbar that’s inconsistent. The crowds are listed as “sometimes,” so on the rare day it’s rideable, you might have a few others out, but it’s not a circus. The best day to actually get wet and not feel like you’re wasting your time is Thursday the 10th of September in the afternoon. That’s the standout—4ft from the S, light offshore wind, clean conditions. It’s not a classic, but it’s the best of a bad run.

Rusty.

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