Ammonias Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the table for this stretch. Frankly, it’s a tough run. We’re looking at a spot called Ammonias, a reef setup that needs a solid south-southeast pulse to really fire, but the wind gods are not playing ball for the most part.

The water’s sitting at a warm 81° right now, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, nothing to write home about.

The first week is a real grind. From Monday the 24th all the way through to Friday the 4th of September, it’s a whole lot of average to poor conditions. The swell hangs around 2ft to 7ft, mostly from the east or east-northeast, which is the opposite of what this reef wants. The problem is the wind: it’s a persistent moderate cross or cross-onshore breeze from the ENE at 12 to 16 mph, keeping things choppy and messy. The wave energy (586 to 950) says there’s some push, but the short period of 6 to 8 seconds means weak, crumbly waves. You’d be fighting a losing battle. There’s nothing here that’d get me paddling out.

The only real glimmer in this whole outlook arrives around Thursday the 5th of September into the weekend. We get a proper shift as a long period swell shows up from the south-southwest, with periods jumping to 17 to 20 seconds. That’s the kind of groundswell that can make a reef like Ammonias talk. The swell height is small, only 2ft to 4ft, but that long period energy (759 to 1122) means clean, lined-up waves. The problem? The wind is still a moderate cross or cross-onshore ENE breeze, so it won’t be glassy perfection. But with that direction and period, the reef could offer up some nice, walling rides, especially for the more experienced crew. It’s still a cross-shore chop out there, so it’s not a standout by any means, just the least worst of a bad bunch.

To sum it up: the first 12 days are a write-off for a good surf. You’re waiting until the 5th of September for the south-southwest groundswell to show up, and even then, the wind keeps it from being a classic. For beginners, the swell is small enough, but the choppy conditions are no fun. For experts, that long period groundswell might offer a few gems if you can work around the breeze. The energy is moderate, but the quality just isn’t there.

Rusty.

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