Surf Forecast

Jetty Surf Forecast for Week of March 17, 2025

Guys we have a deal with Island Fin Poke at Laurel and 41 in Nokomis (Publix Plaza). Designated days the waves are up they will have a special bowl for us surfers. Ask for the “its Pumping Bowl”, not on the menu, its a $10 premium ingredient bowl. The special is only good for the day/days the waves are good. We’ll let ya know what those days are.

Surfline, Swellinfo etc are good for general surf forecasting, what our Jetty Surf Forecast gives you is indepth knowledge for this local area. How the tides affect the surf locally, what the water conditions are, what the sandbars are doing, what the real water temp and feel is and when has been the better times to go out. Information that the general forecast sites have no way of knowing. Updated the page below to show the relevant buoys that affect our areas and a few secret cams.
Weekly surf report: The last few swells have been onshore almost unsurfable conditions, then the next day has been fun cleanwaist high waves. This next system looks different with maybe a building south wave on Thursday then waves all day Friday. Maybe a small wave Saturday morning but not likely. The buoy forecast for Friday is looking great, as of right now, stronger wind out of the north early, eases through the day. NOAA wind forecast has been off. Water temp around 68. Incoming tide til 3pm on Friday.
Weekly Gulf Surf Forecast:
Monday: Building to a windy chest plus
Tuesday: Surf day is Tuesday, Hoping for waist plus waves early
Wednesday: nope
Thursday: building to maybe knee/thigh
Friday: Go surf day, waist to chest all day hopefully
Sat:  Small leftovers
Sun: nothing
*Prepare accordingly and forecast *subject to change

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Relevant WFLA forecast buoys

Read the buoy data. These are the buoys we use to forecast waves for West Florida, you can get the data below. When the swell and period heights elevate from the northern, western or southern buoys the waves will eventually make it to us depending on the pace of the swell.

The waves follow the wind, check long range wind forecast on Windy charts below. Check real time wind data by checking the buoys and  watch the swell heights follow. There are many buoys that only record wind so check those out too by clicking the map below, “select region” will be on the top right of the map, select “Gulf of Mexico (East) Florida” then click whatever buoy your heart desires.

Buoy numbers above correspond to the buoys below

North Forecast buoys


42099 buoy stopped working with hurricane Idalia, back now

South forecast buoys below

42003 East Gulf – 208 NM West of Naples. Hasn’t been working for a little while but when it comes back online we’ll post it

42097 Pulley Ridge – Back online!

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Secret Cams

Casey Key

Pier (Scroll down for cam)

Crows Nest (Use for wind conditions sometimes)

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Real Time Wave Chart

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Real Time Wind Chart

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Click for Venice, FL surf reports. swell info

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East Coast of Florida Surf Forecast Links:

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North FLA:
911 Surf Report
Central FLA:
Wavecaster
CFL.Surf
2nd light forum
South Fla:

Slave to the wave

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How to forecast for West Florida in wintertime cold front season: Watch the lows/systems/front coming across the Gulf and from the north and west. Check the winds and buoys all the way from the western gulf to our coast and the northern Gulf to our coast.
Look to see if the wind is pointed in our direction. Check the speed and amount and length of wind (wind fetch) real time and forecast, check the local wind real time and forecast. Keep checking as conditions change. Even if the wind isn’t pointed directly at us we can pick up the edge of the swell as it can wrap around to hit us. Check the swell direction on the buoys and record them to see how long and how it hits our area.
We have the best weather forecasting tech available, its as accurate as possible but still can be a little off most of the time. Check the water temp to see how much rubber to wear on our thinned blooded bodies. Check the water quality at different beaches. Check the tides, usually best at incoming tide or a mid tide but beaches vary. Find the prime time to surf. Spend a lot of time at the break, observing which tides work best at that particular break. Watch how the sandbars change after every swell and where it seems to be breaking better.
Get disappointed most of the time. This is West Florida’s Gulf Coast.