Black Middens Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at the next couple of weeks at Black Middens. It’s a sheltered reef/river/pier setup that needs the stars to align, and honestly, we’re looking at a long, quiet stretch with only a couple of very brief windows of hope.

The water is sitting at 16°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so you won’t need the thickest rubber.

The first week is pretty much a bust. Tuesday the 14th, Wednesday the 15th, and Thursday the 16th have zero swell energy hitting the bank – the combined energy is 0, 33, and 22 respectively – so don’t even bother with the wetsuit. There’s a clean offshore breeze, but no waves to ride. Friday the 17th is the same story: flat as a tack.

Then on Saturday morning the 18th, we finally get a pulse of 5ft swell from the NNE, but it’s a short period of 7 seconds and the combined energy is only moderate at 223. The wind is a clean offshore from the N at 12 mph, but the conditions are described as ordinary. The afternoon picks up a little to 6ft (8 sec period, 339 energy) with a gentle offshore breeze. It’s surfable, but nothing to write home about.

Sunday the 19th morning is the best we’re going to see. The swell holds at 6ft from the NNE, the period stretches to 9 seconds, and the combined energy climbs to 475 (moderate), with a light offshore breeze from the N. This is the standout of the whole run. The sets will have a bit more push, and the wind will keep it smooth. But remember, this is an inconsistent spot, so don’t be surprised if the lulls are long. The afternoon on Sunday gets ruined by a cross-onshore wind from the ESE, turning it choppy and messy.

After that, it’s a slow fade. Monday the 20th morning drops to 4ft, and the energy is down to 157. The wind is offshore and clean, but the size is shrinking. From Tuesday the 21st onwards, we’re back to tiny, knee-high dribble with periods of 6-8 seconds and combined energy well under 100. The wind stays mostly offshore or clean, but there’s just no grunt in the water.

The second week is a write-off. From the 22nd all the way through to the 29th, the swell is consistently below 3ft, mostly 1ft to 3ft, with very weak energy readings (19 to 80). The direction shifts around to the E and ENE, which isn’t the optimum NNE for this break. The wind is often light or cross-off, but there’s nothing to ride. A few days in late July see a tiny 4ft pulse (25th) but with a poor 7 second period and a cross-shore wind, it’s still not worth the paddle out.

So, to be straight with you: the only window that might get your heart rate up is Sunday morning, July 19th. That’s the one. Get there early, because for an inconsistent spot like Black Middens, a clean 6ft with a 9-second period and a light offshore is a rare gift. The rest of the 16 days is a long, flat, or poor-quality stretch. If you’re desperate for a paddle, the 18th is the second best, but it’s a distant second. Otherwise, save your energy.

Rusty.

Read more