Back Strands Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Righto, let’s have a look at what’s cookin’. The 16-day window’s got a bit of a slow start to be honest. There ain’t much worth paddlin’ out for until we get through the first few days, so we’re lookin’ at a quiet spell. But don’t get too down, there’s a couple of moments that’ll get the heart pumpin’ if you’re patient.

The only spot on the radar here is Back Strands. It’s a reef setup, fairly exposed, and the ideal swell direction is from the west. Water temp’s about average for the time of year, so nothin’ unusual there.

Alright, so the first couple of days are a write-off. Wednesday and Thursday of this week? Forget it. Small, weak swell, and the wind’s all over the shop. You’re lookin’ at waves in the 2 ft range with garbage energy – not worth the rubber.

Friday the 4th of September rolls in with a big pulse. Swell jumps to a solid 12 ft from the west, with a long period of 12-13 seconds, and the combined energy goes ballistic. That’s a strong, powerful groundswell. Problem is, it comes with a strong cross-onshore breeze making a royal mess. That’s proper expert-only territory, and even then, the wind’s gonna trash the surface. Not for the faint-hearted or the beginner.

Saturday the 5th of September is your best bet for the whole outlook. By the afternoon, the swell drops back to a more manageable 5 ft from the west-northwest, period around 10 seconds, and the combined energy is still decent. The wind goes light and cross-offshore, which means clean, tidy lines. That’s your standout session. The waves’ll have some shape, the crowd factor at Back Strands is listed as “sometimes” busy, but with these conditions, you might not be alone. Still, this is the one to aim for.

Sunday the 6th sees the swell drop right off into the 3 ft range with weak energy, nothin’ to get excited about. The rest of that week and into the next? It’s mostly a bust. Lots of onshore winds, lumpy conditions, and small, weak swell. A few days with swell around 5 ft to 7 ft come through Monday and Tuesday the 7th and 8th, but the onshore wind is relentless, making it a choppy, messy affair. Not good for surf, more of a kite-surfing kind of setup if ya ask me.

There’s a tiny flicker of hope on Sunday the 13th of September. The morning shows 3 ft from the west with a 10-second period, a gentle offshore wind, and clean conditions. Energy is moderate. It’s surfable, but ordinary, and definitely not a standout. After that, it’s back to small, weak, and uninspiring right to the end.

So bottom line: the first few days are a write-off. If you want the best wave, get out there for the Saturday the 5th of September afternoon session at Back Strands. That’s your winner. Everything else is either too messy, too small, or too windy for a good time.

Rusty.

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