Ann Street Peaks Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ve gotta be straight with you—this 16-day stretch for Ann Street Peaks is a tough one. The pattern is pretty grim: we’ve got a solid run of lumpy, cross-shore wind and messy conditions that just won’t let up. There’s a whole lot of days where you’ll be better off doing something else. The first real surf recommendation doesn’t even show up until Wednesday afternoon, 22nd July, and even then it’s only marginal.

Let’s start with the early part. Wednesday morning the 15th of July is tiny, 0.7ft from the ESE with a period of 10 seconds, and a cross-off wind. The wave energy is weak (14), so it’s basically a flat spell. That afternoon we get a bit more size, 3ft, but the period drops to 5 seconds and the wind swings cross-on. Not worth paddling out. Then from Thursday the 16th right through to Wednesday morning the 22nd, it’s all poor surf conditions—swell builds up to 8ft, then 13ft on Saturday the 18th afternoon, with combined energy hitting 4930 (very strong), but the wind is a fresh cross-shore breeze and it’s lumpy and choppy. That’s not surfable. For the bigger days, like Saturday afternoon with 13ft, that’s expert-only territory anyway, but the wind wrecking it makes it a no-go. Honestly, for a beach and reef setup, that’s more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

The first real glimmer comes on Wednesday afternoon the 22nd of July. The swell drops to 6ft from the E with a 10-second period, and the wind goes cross-shore, moderate breeze. The combined energy is 548 (moderate), but the wave comment says “marginal surf forecast or questionable tide conditions.” It’s not great, but it’s the best on offer early on. The water temp is about average for the time of year here. Not a standout, just a chance to get wet if you’re desperate.

Thursday the 23rd is similar—5ft to 5ft, still marginal, with a gentle breeze. Still not a recommendation.

Now, if you’re looking for the best of a bad bunch, circle Saturday the 25th of July. Saturday morning we’ve got 8ft from the SE with a period of 8 seconds, cross-shore wind, and combined energy of 734 (moderate). The afternoon gets a bit better: 8ft from the SE, same 8-second period, still cross-shore, and the energy bumps to 1079 (strong). The score is 2 out of 10, which is the highest in the whole outlook. This is the standout, but it’s still marginal—the wind is a moderate cross-shore with a cross-chop, so it’s lumpy, but it’s the most size and energy you’ll get. The swell direction is SE, which matches the optimum ESE close enough to work. Crowds are sometimes a factor here, so expect a few locals out. This is for intermediate surfers—the 8ft is pushing it for beginners, but it’s not too heavy for experienced paddlers.

After that, it fades. Sunday the 26th and Monday the 27th are back to poor conditions, with smaller swell and cross-on wind. Tuesday the 28th morning shows a tiny 3ft from the E with an 11-second period, marginal, but it’s barely a ripple. The rest of the forecast is a mix of poor and marginal, with cross-on wind and lumpy seas.

So, the long-range stuff after the 25th is pretty uninspiring. The 29th and 30th are just poor, with 4ft and fresh cross-on wind. Honestly, the only real window to keep an eye on is Saturday the 25th of July. That’s your best bet, but it’s not a classic. Forecasts can change, so don’t write it off completely, but right now, it’s a lean run.

Rusty.

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