Bird Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, folks, Rusty here. Let’s look at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, with plenty of chop and crosswind to wade through, but there’s definitely some quality buried in there if you pick your moments.

The first real chance to get wet comes Thursday morning, the 10th of September. We’ve got a solid 8ft SSW groundswell (16-second period) pushing in with very strong energy (3464). The catch is a cross-shore wind that’s set to mess with the surface a bit, leaving it with a bit of a cross-chop. It’s doable, but it’s not the cleanest start. The afternoon sees the wind clocking onshore and the swell dropping a touch; not one to bother with.

Friday morning, the 11th, the swell backs off to 6ft, but the wind lightens up, only a slight cross-onshore breeze. The energy is still strong (1364), but the surface is going to have small ripples on it. You’ll get waves, but they won’t be perfect. The afternoon swings to a clean onshore, not ideal.

Saturday morning, the 12th, the wind is light and cross-shore, with a 6ft SSW swell and strong energy (1389). It’s rideable, but the small crossing wind ripples will be there. The afternoon is a bit smaller and less energy.

Sunday, the 13th, is a real standout. The wind goes cross-offshore from the North at 15 km/h in the morning, and the swell is a clean 4ft from the SW with a long 15-second period. The energy is moderate (516), but the conditions are described as “clean”. This is the best on offer for the first week. The water is about average for the time of year, no real surprises there. Bird Rock is a fairly exposed reef, and with the clean conditions, this is the one to aim for, though keep in mind crowds can be an issue here sometimes.

Monday the 14th, the swell drops right off. The morning sees a 2ft SW swell with an offshore breeze, but it’s just too small to get excited about. The energy is weak (164). The afternoon is even smaller. A real rest day.

Tuesday the 15th, the swell jumps back up big time – 10ft at 13 seconds from the SSW, with very strong energy (5150). That’s expert territory. The wind is a messy cross-shore, so it’s going to be a bumpy, chopped-up affair. Unless you’re a seasoned charger looking for a battle, give this one a miss. The afternoon is just as ugly.

The middle of the week (Wednesday 16th to Thursday 17th) is a slow, steady decline. The swell hangs around 5ft to 6ft, but the wind is mostly cross-onshore, keeping the surface messy. Not the best.

Now, here’s where it gets promising for the second week. Friday the 18th is a standout. The morning starts with a 6ft SW swell at 13 seconds and a gentle offshore NW wind. The energy is moderate (897), and the conditions are “clean”. The afternoon is even better: the swell builds to 7ft from the SW, still with a gentle offshore wind, and the energy is strong (1415). This is described as excellent for experienced surfers. That’s the session to target.

Saturday the 19th and Sunday the 20th look messy. The wind picks up strong, and the swell gets chopped up and inconsistent. Monday the 21st, however, is a real treat. The morning is clean with a 5ft SW swell and a gentle offshore wind from the NW (883 energy). The afternoon is even better with a light offshore breeze and the same clean 5ft waves. Glassy conditions.

Tuesday the 22nd is decent, with a moderate offshore wind cleaning up a 6ft SSW swell. But the absolute highlight of the entire forecast is Wednesday the 23rd. The morning sees an 8ft SSW groundswell with a 17-second period, offering very strong energy (4251). The wind is a gentle offshore, making for clean, powerful waves. This is a big, groundswell on a reef, so it’s going to be a serious session for experienced surfers only. The energy is immense.

The last few days, Thursday the 24th and Friday the 25th, have the wind turning onshore from the east, ruining the surface. The swell is still there, but it’s a mess.

So, to wrap it up: the best on offer is Sunday the 13th for a clean, fun, manageable swell, and the absolute standout is Friday the 18th and Wednesday the 23rd for the bigger, cleaner, powerful groundswell. The 23rd is the one for the big-wave crew.

Rusty.

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