Wooden Jetties Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ve gotta be straight with you – the next 16 days at Wooden Jetties are a real mixed bag, and honestly, there’s not much to get excited about for a long stretch. The first solid window of surf is a few weeks away, and even then, it’s just barely on the radar.

From the start of the forecast on Wednesday, August 5th, right through to the morning of Sunday, August 16th, it’s a real dry spell. We’re looking at tiny, weak swell – mostly around 1 ft to 3 ft – with a short, choppy period of just 6 seconds. The wind is nearly always a problem, swinging from cross-on to cross-shore, and the combined wave energy is pitiful, sitting below 100 (like 38 to 90). It’s one of those frustrating periods where you’d be better off doing something else. The water temp is sitting at 77°F, which is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year, but that’s about the only highlight.

Then, finally, on Monday morning, August 17th, we get a little spike. Swell jumps to 5 ft from the S, with a period of 7 seconds, and the combined energy hits 328 – that’s moderate wave energy, so there’s some push behind it. But the wind is onshore from the SE at 10 km/h (6 mph), and the forecast calls it “marginal” with a risk of thunderstorms. It’s a messy, raw setup, and the tide might be an issue. This is a beach/jetty break, so with that size and onshore wind, it’s going to be lumpy and blown out. Not one for the beginner – 5 ft is a bit much if you’re just starting out – and honestly, the quality is poor. If you’re a kiter, this might be more your scene than a paddle surfer.

The best of a quiet bunch comes on Tuesday morning, August 18th. The swell drops to 2 ft from the SSE, but the period stretches to 9 seconds, which is a little more groundswell-like. The combined energy is 101 (moderate) and the wind is offshore from the NW at 15 km/h (9 mph), giving us clean, gentle conditions. This is the one standout. It’s not big, but it’s clean and surfable. The break is fairly consistent, and with offshore wind, it’ll be the best shape of the whole period. Keep in mind, though, it’s a beach/jetty, so that longer period (9 seconds) might make it a bit straight on the shorebreak, but it’s still the pick. Crowds are possible here – it says “sometimes” – so don’t expect a solo session.

After that, it fades again. The rest of the second week – Wednesday, August 19th through Thursday, August 20th – is back to tiny, weak swell (1 ft to 2 ft) with poor wind and energy levels below 100. Not worth the paddle.

So, the long and short of it: there’s a long gap with no real surf from August 5th to August 16th. The only real chance to get wet is Tuesday morning, August 18th, when the wind goes offshore and the swell is small but clean. That’s your best bet, but it’s not a classic. Everything else is a miss.

Rusty.

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