Westport-The Groins Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s look at what’s in the water for Westport-The Groins over the next couple weeks. There’s a bit of a mixed bag – some clean small windows and a few bigger, punchier days – but plenty of chop and cross-onshore junk to sift through too. Not a classic run, but there’s a couple of moments worth paddling out for, especially if you’re willing to wait.

The water’s running at 62.8°F, which is a touch warmer than usual for early September – about 3.1°F above average, so you might not need the thickest rubber.

First up, Wednesday the 2nd of September afternoon is a bit of a mess. We’ve got 7.2ft of SSW swell at 9 seconds, cross-off wind from the WSW, but the combined energy is a hefty 1007 (moderate to strong) and the report calls it marginal. The onshore junk is too much, and the tide might throw it off. Best to wait.

Thursday the 3rd morning drops to 6.2ft from the west with a period of 11 seconds, cross-off wind from the SE, combined energy of 1135 – proper power. The report says “expect good surf conditions” and it’s clean. Thursday afternoon stays clean but smaller at 5.6ft from the west with a 10-second period and a feather-light 5 km/h SE breeze. That’s a solid window: long-period groundswell, clean faces, not too big. The Groins can handle that west swell nicely. Not a standout, but a decent paddle for the intermediate crew.

Friday the 4th morning drops to 3.3ft from the west, period 9 seconds, combined energy 323, and the report calls it “surfable but very ordinary.” Not worth rushing. Friday arvo gets even smaller at 2.3ft with a long 18-second period, but it’s cross-on from the NW and choppy.

Now here’s a little gem: Saturday the 5th of September morning. Glassy conditions, 2.3ft of southwest swell riding in on a 17-second period, combined energy 445. That long-period groundswell will wrap in nicely at the jetty. Light as a feather, clean as a whistle. Sure, it’s small, but for a summer-style wave with no wind bump, it’s a lovely session for a longboard or a fish.

Sunday the 6th through to Wednesday the 9th is mostly tiny (1.3ft to 2.3ft) with choppy cross-on winds. The 9th morning goes glassy with 1.3ft at 18 seconds, but it’s barely a ripple. Not worth getting wet.

Thursday the 10th and Friday the 11th are still small and messy, but by Friday afternoon we see a jump to 5.6ft from the WNW with a short 8-second period – combined energy 631, but it’s cross-on and choppy. Not great for a clean wave.

Saturday the 12th morning is the first proper highlight of the second week. 5.2ft from the WNW with an 8-second period, cross-off wind from the SW, combined energy at 865. Clean, punchy, and a little overhead at the jetty. That’s a fun, hollower little bank if the sand’s in. This is the best on offer if you’re intermediate or above.

Sunday the 13th keeps it going – 3.9ft at 10 seconds in the morning with offshore wind from the south, clean. Afternoon sees 4.6ft at 10 seconds, light cross-off from the WSW, still clean. Monday the 14th morning is glassy with 4.6ft at 11 seconds – that’s a long period, and the Groins will turn it into a nice, smooth wall. The combined energy hits 631. This is the other standout: clean, glassy, shoulder-to-head-high groundswell. Perfect for a log or a step-up.

The rest of Monday afternoon and Tuesday the 15th get chopped up by cross-on NW winds. But then Wednesday the 16th morning serves up another cleanie: 5.6ft from the WNW with a period of 11 seconds, combined energy 812, light cross-off from the SE. That’s a solid, clean, powerful swell – the best size and conditions combo in the whole run. Wednesday afternoon holds at 6.2ft but the period drops to 8 seconds, still clean with light cross-off from the west. That afternoon might be punchy and a little dumpy on the shore, but still very rideable.

Thursday the 17th fades into smaller, choppy junk.

So if I’m calling it: the standout windows are Saturday 5th morning for a glassy long-period longboard session, and Sunday 13th through Wednesday 16th morning offers the best mix of size, cleanliness, and consistency, with Wednesday 16th morning being the pick of the crop – 5.6ft, 11-second groundswell, clean, and a combined energy of 812. For the Groins, that’s a proper session. It’s a fairly consistent spot, so even the smaller glassy days are worth a look. That long gap from the 6th to the 11th is pretty ordinary, but it

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