Whangamata Bar Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here with a look at the local surf. It’s a bit of a strange one for us, I gotta be honest.

Right off the bat, the next week and a half are looking grim. We’re looking at a real flat spell through to around the 21st of July. There's nothing to get excited about, just tiny, weak waves with no power behind them. It’s the kind of stuff that'll have you checking your board for dings just to feel like you're doing something. There's a run of days with hardly any energy, with the combined energy reading only a measly 45 (moderate wave energy) on the 12th of July, and then it just gets even smaller. We do get a bit of glassy conditions on the 15th of July morning, but even then, the swell is only 0.7ft from the East with a long 12-second period. It's not enough to push a leaf across a puddle.

The first real sign of life pops up on the 21st of July with a bit of a spike, but it’s messy and onshore. By the morning of the 22nd of July, it turns into a monster. We’re looking at a 16ft swell from the ENE with a period of 11 seconds and the combined swell energy hits a massive 11366 (very strong wave energy). But here’s the thing, that's way too big for Whangamata Bar. The break itself is called out as being too big, and even with the wind being cross-off, this is an expert-only situation, and honestly, it’s probably more of a kitesurfing show than a paddle surfer's paradise. The swell stays big through the 23rd of July, with heights around 8ft to 10ft, but the conditions are described as "marginal".

Now for the standout. If you wait it out, you’ll get your reward. The week starting the 21st of July has a couple of standouts, but the one to really circle on your calendar is the morning of the 24th of July. It’s a Thursday, but it’s worth playing hooky for. We’ve got a solid 8ft swell from the East, a 13-second period, and the wind is a clean cross-off from the SSW. Breaking at Whangamata Bar, which is a beach/bar setup, it'll be firing. The combined swell energy is a chunky 1843 (strong wave energy). A word to the wise, this place is "inconsistent" and can get crowded "sometimes", but when it’s on, it’s on. That morning is the pick of the whole outlook.

Water temp is around 59°F, and with a zero anomaly, that’s about average for this time of year. Nothing weird there.

After that big morning, the swell starts to ease but still holds at a very respectable size right through to the end of the period. The 25th of July morning looks clean with a 5ft East swell and offshore WSW winds, which is a solid session. The 26th of July afternoon is also looking tidy with a 6ft East swell. Overall, that second half of the forecast has a few good days, but the 24th is the one to go after.

Keep an eye on the charts. It’s a long wait, but it could be worth it.

Rusty.

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