204 Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, mate. Rusty here. Let's talk about the next couple of weeks for 204. Honestly, it’s a bit of a mixed bag – nothing is screaming "world-class," but there are a few windows where the ocean might give us a decent session if you’re patient.

We’re in a period dominated by a consistent, long-period swell pushing in from the SSW. The swell energy is solid, sitting at a moderate 532 on Sunday morning (August 16th), but don't get too excited just yet. The issue is the wind. For a spot that really needs the wind to play nice, we’re seeing a lot of cross-onshore flow, which is going to mess up the surface. The water is *much* warmer than average, running at 74°, which is a full 7° above normal. That’s very unusual for this time of year.

Let’s start with the best of it. 204 itself is the only game in town, and your best bet for a paddle is going to be on Wednesday morning, August 26th. That afternoon, the wind is set to go glassy with a light W airflow. You’ll have clean 2ft swell from the SW with a 16 second period – that's a proper groundswell. The energy is a moderate 334, so the waves should have some shape. It's not huge, but for a clean, lined-up wave, this is your standout window. Keep in mind, for an advanced break like this, the long period will make it break a bit straight if you’re on a beach break, but given the setup here, the quality should be there. Crowds are possible, so keep an eye out.

Before that, we have a real drought. From Sunday the 16th right through to Tuesday the 25th, the conditions are just poor. It’s small, often choppy, with cross-onshore winds. The swell height barely breaks 3ft, but the wind ruins it. The only exception might be Sunday morning (August 16th) with a 3ft SSW swell and a 16-second period, but it’s cross-on with a light breeze and the wave comment is marginal. It’s worth a look if you’re desperate, but don’t expect magic.

After the 26th, the surf drops off again. We see a little pulse of 3ft SSW swell showing up around Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th, with moderate energy (up to 714 on the Saturday afternoon). But you’re looking at choppy cross-shore winds on the 29th. The 30th morning has clean, onshore wind with that same 3ft SSW swell at a 15-second period – that could be a decent, albeit not perfect, option.

Overall, the only real day to lock in for quality is Wednesday, August 26th afternoon. The rest of the 16-day window is mostly a waiting game with small, messy surf. A surfer’s patience will be tested here, but if you wait for that glassy window, you’ll get a few good ones.

Rusty.

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