Tices Sholls Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming our way at Tices Sholls.

Honestly, for the next week and a half, we are staring down a pretty flat and forgettable stretch. The swell is tiny, the energy is low, and most days the wind is just messy. There’s a long gap here where the surf just isn’t worth paddling out for. From July 3rd all the way through to the morning of the 10th, everything is rated as poor. You’re looking at swell heights of just 1 ft to 5 ft, with weak combined energy readings (between 22 and 142). The periods are short too, mostly 5 to 9 seconds, so no real grunt behind them. The wind is usually cross-shore or cross-onshore, chopping things up. Not our time.

Then, on the morning of Friday July 10th, we finally get a little glimmer. A clean, cross-offshore breeze from the WSW with light winds, and 2 ft of S swell. The energy is still weak at 50, and the surf is described as “very ordinary”, but at least it’s clean. That window doesn’t last though, the afternoon goes back to cross-shore chop.

We get another short-lived clean spell on Saturday July 11th, with a light WSW cross-offshore wind again. Swell picks up a tiny bit to 3 ft from the SSE, and the energy edges up to 109 (moderate). Still “very ordinary” conditions, but for a patient soul on a longboard, there might be a few.

The rest of the second week is more of the same – messy, small, or onshore. Tuesday July 14th morning offers a brief moment of light cross-shore wind and 3 ft SSE swell, with energy at 243 (moderate), but it’s called marginal.

Now, here is the one true standout. Look at the morning of Thursday July 16th. This is the one to circle. The wind goes glassy – dead calm – out of the NW. Swell comes up to 6 ft from the S with an 8-second period, and the combined energy hits 822 (strong to very strong). The report says “expect very good surf conditions.” This is the best on offer by a long shot. The water temperature is 73°, which is much warmer than usual for this time of year, so you won’t need a thick suit. Just know this: the period is on the short side at 8 seconds, so it’s not a groundswell; it’s more of a windswell. That means it could be a little raw, but with glassy conditions and that height, Tices Sholls will have some proper, clean waves. It’s a beginner-friendly sandbar, but at 6 ft, it’s pushing into intermediate territory – strong paddlers will have the best time. Also keep in mind, the spot *sometimes* gets crowded, so if you can, get out early.

After that, the wind picks up again and the swell fades through the 17th and 18th, so that Thursday morning is your window.

Rusty.

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