Back Strands Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here with the look at Back Strands. The next couple weeks are a bit of a mixed bag, but there’s a solid window if you’re willing to wait.

The first few days are nearly dead. Saturday the 22nd has a tiny 1ft swell out of the NW with a cross-on breeze and a period of just 5 seconds – total mush. The combined wave energy is a weak 15. Sunday the 23rd is glassy in the afternoon with a 1ft swell from the WNW, but it’s just too small. You’re waiting until Monday the 24th for a 3ft swell from the WNW with an 11-second period. That’s some groundswell, and the energy hits 254 – moderate. The wind goes glassy in the afternoon, so it’ll be clean, but the surf is still just ordinary.

Then it’s a dry spell. Tuesday through to the end of August is mostly small and weak. The worst of it is Saturday the 29th – the swell jumps to 6ft from the west, but it’s a short 7-second period and the wind is a fresh cross-on at 19-22 mph. That’s 311 energy, but it’s lumpy, onshore junk. That setup looks more like a kite-surfing day than a paddle session.

Now, here’s the good stuff. Circle the 3rd of September. That Thursday morning, the swell is 6ft out of the west with a 10-second period, and the wind is offshore from the ESE. The combined energy is a solid 694. It’s clean and described as “very good surf conditions.” Then Thursday afternoon it gets even better: 8ft of west swell, 11-second period, glassy, and the energy rockets to 1253. That’s strong. The water temp is 62°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. That 8ft is getting into the big range, so it’s for the experts.

Friday the 4th is the real standout. Morning has 7ft from the west, 12-second period, and a gentle offshore from the ESE. Combined energy is 1290. That’s the best of the whole forecast. The west swell is perfect for Back Strands, which is a reef break. With a long period like 12 seconds, the sets will have more time between them, making it easier to paddle out, and the reef setup will handle that long-period energy real well.

After that, it fades. Saturday the 5th and Sunday the 6th still have surfable waves around 5ft to 6ft, but the wind gets fresher and more cross-off or cross-shore, and the quality drops. The energy is still moderate (441-603), but it’s not as clean as the Thursday and Friday peak.

Bottom line: the first week is a wash, but the 3rd and 4th of September are the ones to chase. Don’t sleep on it.

Rusty.

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