Sebastian Inlet Alert Guide

Florida, USA · part of the Sebastian Inlet spot guide

The assigned Fort Pierce buoy (41068) reports wind but no waves, so this is a model-swell alert rather than a buoy-wave trigger — check 41068 for a live offshore-wind reading. The height below is open-ocean; the jetty can bump the face above it.

The forecaster's checklist

1. 1.Want swell direction from the northeast to east (about 40–90°) for the best wedge feed; a southeast angle is worth checking Monster Hole.
2. 2.Look for period of 8 seconds or more, ideally 10-plus, so the jetty can organise the peak and the outer bank works.
3. 3.Score an offshore west, northwest or southwest wind, and light — the Fort Pierce buoy (41068) gives the nearest live wind reading.
4. 4.Target the incoming-to-mid tide for First Peak and low or low-slack for Monster Hole, minding the strong inlet current.
5. 5.Weight September to October tropical swell or a winter frontal northeast pulse, and don’t over-forecast the legacy wedge — it is diminished since 2003.

Local winds & tide

Best wind: W–NW–SW offshore — from 225° to 315° (SW–NW).

Tide-sensitive; the takeoff and how the wedge squares up shift with the tide and the strong inlet current, with incoming-to-mid a common favourite for First Peak and low or low-slack for Monster Hole.

Dial it in