Tices Sholls Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright surfers, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the table for the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, things are looking pretty flat and messy for Tices Sholls (sandbar). The water is sitting at 78°F, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year, so that’s a nice touch if you’re just floating around.

We start off with a small window Monday morning, August 17th. There’s a tiny 4ft swell from the SSE, period a short 6 seconds, and the energy is weak (95). The wind is light offshore from the WNW, so it’s clean enough for a beginner to get a few soft ones. But honestly, the conditions are very ordinary – nothing to get excited about.

Monday afternoon goes glassy with a north wind and a dribbly 3ft SSW swell, but it’s flat and uninspiring.

From Tuesday the 18th through to Saturday the 22nd, it’s a real struggle. Swell drops below 3ft, wind is mostly cross or onshore, and the energy is pathetic (down to 25). A lot of “poor surf conditions” in there. A few small windows on Friday afternoon the 21st with a 3ft ENE windswell and light cross-off wind, but it’s got a period of just 4 seconds – no push.

Sunday the 23rd is a write-off with strong cross-shore winds.

We finally see a bit of life on Monday the 24th. Moderate offshore NW wind, clean faces, but the swell is only 1ft from the SE with a 12-second period. The energy is still weak (55). It’s surfable for a keen longboarder, but nothing to call home about.

Tuesday the 25th morning shows a little bump: 4ft from the S, period 5 seconds, light cross-off wind, clean. Energy is still low (91). Not great, but a slight improvement.

Then things get weird. From Tuesday afternoon the 25th through to the end of the period, the swell energy jumps. Tuesday afternoon hits 267 (moderate), Wednesday the 26th sees 239, and it keeps climbing: Thursday the 27th 219-227, and Friday the 28th morning peaks at 665 (strong energy). Swell height hits 6ft on Tuesday afternoon, 4ft on Friday, with periods around 12-14 seconds. But the wind is a total mess – onshore, cross-onshore, fresh cross-shore, lumpy chop. The wave comment is “poor surf conditions” across the board. This is a classic case of a big, raw swell with no clean wind. For a sandbar with that much energy and short period swell, it’s going to be a washing machine. If you’re a kite surfer, this might be your window, but for paddle surfing, it’s a struggle.

The last few days into September drop back to tiny, weak swell with onshore or cross winds. Not worth chasing.

Best on offer: Honestly, the standout is Monday morning, August 17th. It’s not much, but the 4ft SSE swell with light offshore wind (WNW, 6 mph) is the cleanest we get. For a beginner at Tices Sholls, that’s your shot. The warm water is a bonus. The Friday the 28th pulse has power but no clean wind – only for the hardcore or the kite crew.

The rest of the 16 days is a long stretch of flat, messy, or blown-out conditions. We’ve got a big gap of poor surf from the 18th to the 22nd, then another gap from the 26th onward. Forecasts can change, but right now, it’s looking like a quiet period.

Rusty.

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