How to read a Boating Forecast?
Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: General Forums
Forum Name: The Boat Shed
Forum Description: Discuss all things boating.
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=82331
Printed Date: 06 Jul 2026 at 1:19am
Topic: How to read a Boating Forecast?
Posted By: PeppeNZ
Subject: How to read a Boating Forecast?
Date Posted: 11 Sep 2012 at 2:40pm
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Hi all, spank new to boating (Wellington harbour and thereabouts), hence the question. How to determine (apart from watching out of the window, and coastguard/VHF forecasts...) when it is safe to go out (on a 5m fiberglass cruiser) by using Metservice boating forecasts? Of course I do get the color coding (aim for green, with orange still possible just not too comfy, avoid red), but how about the details??? Example: For a fishing trip, what would be ok (i.e. not dangerous...) values for Swell Height, Sea Height, Chop? Just don't want to get killed on the first outing :) Thanks! |
Replies:
Posted By: DeKay
Date Posted: 11 Sep 2012 at 2:45pm
| Wind is the main thing to look at. You want the least wind possible. Ideally 5 knot variable winds or up to 10 knots. 15 knots is manageable but getting rough. 20 Knots or above is no place for a 5m boat. |
Posted By: [email protected]
Date Posted: 11 Sep 2012 at 3:51pm
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Also look for issues relating to Wind against Tide ! Some areas can really get up when this goes down. I also use the Nowcasting text service ( which gives me real Time wind Info ) and which when used in conjunction with the main 3 forecasting services as I see them.... MetView, Swellmap and then Metservice gives me a pretty darn good outlook on whats happening today and then as the week progresses. ------------- http://www.blackbillsportfishing.co.nz/" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: Don18025
Date Posted: 11 Sep 2012 at 4:33pm
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PeppeNZ welcome to fishing and boating and this website. You have internet web access, so set up a favourites file and read these regularly. Takes a little time but worth learning, alongside with your Boatmasters Course. Do one! Met Service - Wellington forecast. I think the Met Service does a good job. http://www.metservice.com/marine/recreational-marine/wellington try to pick the weather for each day at work from the forecast the night before, you will soon learn to read the isobar maps to pick up the future weather changes. Swellmap is really helpful www.swellmap.com Welcome to safe boating... |
Posted By: letsgetem
Date Posted: 11 Sep 2012 at 5:35pm
| The posts in a recent thread "swellmap" in the Briny Bar, could be useful. |
Posted By: Olfart
Date Posted: 11 Sep 2012 at 6:10pm
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Wind can be your greatest enemy out on the water and you should view all forecasts with the length of your boat in mind. For example, I have a 5.1m glass boat (equates to 16'7") so my wind safety margin is 16 knots. I know my boat will handle stronger winds than that, but this leaves me with a safety margin should things turn to custard on the water. ------------- Semper in excreta sumus, solum profundum variat.... |
Posted By: Cigar
Date Posted: 11 Sep 2012 at 7:01pm
What he said! Swell isn't really an issue (to a point) if it has a long period, whereas chop from the wind is what makes it uncomfortable.
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DeKay wrote:Posted By: smudge
Date Posted: 11 Sep 2012 at 10:22pm
| 15 knots is often seen as an upper limit to a comfortable day out. What does catch people out is what can be really nice in a 15 knot wind can change completely when the tides change. The more the tidal flow such as in harbours the bigger the effects of wind against tide. Heading out initially in 10 knots or less is a good way to start learning, especially if you've done a Coastguard course. |
Posted By: KikBac
Date Posted: 11 Sep 2012 at 10:45pm
| Have a look on the web cams http://www.surf.co.nz" rel="nofollow - www.surf.co.nz (Lyall Bay, Breaker Bay, Titahi Bay) or the excellent Plimmerton boating club website http://www.plimmertonboatingclub.org.nz" rel="nofollow - www.plimmertonboatingclub.org.nz to see what the swell is doing. In Welly's if it is no good on one coast you can usually get out on the other. Remember boating is meant to be fun - if it is not fun for yourself and/or your crew it is probably too rough to be out there. There is always another day... |
Posted By: Sufishent
Date Posted: 12 Sep 2012 at 7:21am
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I urge you to do the Day Skippers course with Coastguard - it will explain all this jargon plus more to make your boating more enjoyable and safer ------------- You can never have enough fishing tackle |
Posted By: PeppeNZ
Date Posted: 12 Sep 2012 at 10:33am
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Thanks everybody for the excellent replies! I had already booked a VHF operator and Day Skipper/Harbourmaster course with Coastguard, got them in the mail today :) As for the wind against tide, please correct me if I am wrong in this example for Wellington (harbour entrance roughly oriented N-S): incoming tide and southerlies = smoother seas/less chop, and the same for outgoing tide and northerlies. Rougher conditions for opposite combinations (i.e., outgoing and southerlies, or ingoing and northerlies. Thanks again, Peppe |
Posted By: DeKay
Date Posted: 12 Sep 2012 at 2:28pm
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I live in Lyall bay and fish around Wellington regularly. There are others on the forum who specialise in harbour fishing more than me. You can read the Wellington Fishing thread here: http://www.fishing.net.nz/asp_forums/wellington-boat-fishing_topic63514.html" rel="nofollow - http://www.fishing.net.nz/asp_forums/wellington-boat-fishing_topic63514.html Or, bookmark this link for the latest posts in the Wellington thread. http://www.fishing.net.nz/asp_forums/get_last_post.asp?TID=63514" rel="nofollow - http://www.fishing.net.nz/asp_forums/get_last_post.asp?TID=63514 For Forecasts I use metservice and swellmap mainly. The Metservice graphs come from swell map anyway I think. In the harbour most people launch from Evans bay or Seaview. They are both good ramps. On the south coast the best is probably owhiro bay or tarakena bay but they are not as easy as the harbour ramps. The harbour is less effected by tide and swell than the outside coast. Southerly swell comes through the entrance and up the harbour on the east side, seatoun, scorching bay, ward island etc. Evans bay and oriental bay are usually unaffected by southerly swell. I take my kids out in evans bay if there is a southerly swell in the entrance. Wind against tide is not such an issue in the harbour, more outside in deeper water. However, if the wind and tide are running in opposite directions the entrance will increase in chop and get rougher. Best to aim for 10 knots or less. Look for light winds on the forecasts and try to plan your outings on those days. Always have a vhf, life jackets on, trip report with maritime radio and on the fridge. For harbour fishing try falcon shoals, eastern side of the harbour, evans bay holes, off kau bay, scorching bay, the islands. If you want to catch fish I recommend using burley on the bottom. Evans bay - first kingfish (released)  Eastern side of the harbour trevally  Seatoun gurnard  |
Posted By: Spaz
Date Posted: 12 Sep 2012 at 8:58pm
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Welcome PeppeNZ. Nothing beats studying the local weather, it's forecasts, and spending time on the water to get a handle on Wellingtons conditions, but it does take time to come to grips with it. If your fishing the harbour look for 5 to 10 knots to be comfortable in a 5m boat. If your launching at seaview (I see you listed as being in lower hutt) you can sneak across petone foreshore and down Ngauranga side if the northerly rises. Wellingtons Southerly tends to abate into great evening fishing conditions, if the forecast has it at 5kn raising to 10kn in late morning early avo. The southerly swell can reach up to the south end of Ward island, but increases nearer the harbour entrence due to the water pushing up into the shallower and narrow entrence. The swell tends to effect the eastern coastline more so than the seatoun side. A lot depends on the type of boat you have as well. You will find that a 5m fibreglass boat will handle the steep Wellington chop far better than a small tinny that's built lightly, keepin in mind that some of the newer Ali boats can be built like a brick **** house. Spend plenty of time getting to know your boat and how it handles in all conditions. Most importantly, have all the safety gear, and don't get blazay if heading out. the worst things happen at sea when it's least expected. And always check over your rig before hitting the water (battery, VHF, etc) The recent tragedy in the harbour happened 50m from shore in flat calm conditions, and should serve a a reminder to all the dangers of boating. BUT, with all that in mind, get out there and enjoy it And keep an eye out for us local forum members, most are happy to pass on a bit of knowledge. And as DeKay said, keep an eye on the Wellington boat fishing thread. |