Back Strands Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, gather 'round. Rusty here, with a look at the local surf. We're looking at a pretty grim stretch ahead, to be honest. The next week and a half is mostly a write-off, so don't be in a rush. We’ve got a solid 10-day gap with almost nothing worth paddling out for. The real story comes later, and it's a big one.

First up, the only break on the cards is Back Strands. It's a reef setup, fairly exposed to the west, which is the direction we need the swell to come from. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing weird.

Okay, let's get into it. From Wednesday the 22nd right through to Sunday the 27th, the surf is just poor. Tiny, weak swell with combined energy in the teens and low hundreds (34, 30, 11, 18) and a messy cross-onshore wind. It's choppy, it's ugly, and it's not worth your time. The swell picks up a bit on the 24th and 25th, with energy climbing into the hundreds (162, 167, 453, 550), but the wind is still a problem. By Sunday the 26th, the wind is a fresh breeze, making it lumpy. Not a good look.

There's a glimmer on Monday the 27th, with a 5ft to 6ft W swell at 10 seconds, and a clean cross-offshore wind. The energy is strong (423, 587), but the forecast still calls it marginal. It's a maybe, but don't get your hopes up. That's the only half-decent day in the first 10 days.

Then it goes flat again. The 28th through the 31st of July is all poor surf, with cross-onshore winds and energy dropping back down. The 30th has a clean, light offshore wind, but the swell is a pathetic 2ft. Not worth it.

Now, here's the standout, and it's a long way off. On Saturday, the 1st of August, we’ve got a proper pulse. The swell is 11ft to 13ft from the W and WNW, with a solid 11-second period. The combined energy is massive – 3249 and 3663. This is a serious, powerful swell. The wind is onshore and cross-onshore, which is a shame, but for a big, powerful west swell, it's going to be a sight. This is for experts only. The swell is over 8ft, so it's a heavy, powerful wave. The period is 11 seconds, which is good, but it's a long period, so it'll be a bit more challenging at a beach break, but on a reef like Back Strands, it could be an absolute beast. The crowds are 'sometimes' there, so you might have some company. This is the one to circle on the calendar, but as always, with a forecast this far out, treat it as a promising possibility, not a guarantee.

After that, it drops back down. The 2nd of August has a 6ft swell, but it's onshore and messy. Then it's back to flat, tiny waves and glassy conditions by the 4th, but with no energy.

So, the game plan is simple: save your energy for the 1st of August. Everything else is a no-go. The wait will be worth it, but it's a long one.

Rusty.

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