Black Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s take a look at what’s coming up for Black Rock over the next couple of weeks. This is a solid, exposed reef break that really only works for advanced crew, and it demands a NE swell direction to be at its best.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a bit of a gap – there’s nothing doing until Friday the 10th of July. That morning, some clouds roll through with a 6 ft SE swell, period around 10 seconds, and a cross-off breeze from the SSW at 9 mph. It’s not the ideal direction for this spot, but the cross-off will keep it clean, and the combined wave energy is moderate at 871. Water temp is sitting at 70°, which is pretty much average for this time of year. The surf looks very good. Friday afternoon holds a touch bigger at 7 ft, same direction, lighter cross-off wind at 6 mph, and energy bumps up to 918. Still very good, but remember this is an advanced-only wave.

Saturday the 11th of July, though – that’s a treat. Morning brings a glassy, clear sky with a clean 3 ft swell from the ESE, but the standout is the period: 13 seconds, giving it real groundswell punch for a reef like this. The wind is glassy (SW at 3 mph), so it’ll be clean as a whistle. Energy is moderate at 192. It’s small, but that long period and glassy conditions make for a really nice session. Afternoon gets a bit messier with a cross-on wind, so morning is the move.

Sunday the 12th of July offers good surf again – morning sees a 4 ft SE swell with a cross-off NW breeze at 6 mph and clean conditions (energy 253). The longer period (10 seconds) helps shape. Not a standout, but solid.

Now, we hit a long, dry spell. From Monday the 13th right through to Sunday the 19th of July, the waves drop right off. Mostly tiny, short-period lumps with poor conditions – a lot of cross-shore wind, rain showers, and even a 4-second period day. This stretch is a write-off for paddle surfing. The afternoon of the 19th, however, things get interesting again: a 8 ft SE swell rolls in with an 11-second period, but it’s coming with a light cross-shore breeze. The combined energy is a powerful 1775, so it’s a heavy, strong swell – definitely only for experts. The wind is marginal, so it might be a bit lumpy.

Monday the 20th and Tuesday the 21st are small and glassy in the mornings – 2 ft to 3 ft from the east – but that’s more of a longboard or funboard wave. Not a standout.

The real highlight of the whole outlook shapes up around Thursday the 23rd of July through Friday the 24th. Thursday morning has a 2 ft ESE swell but with a 12-second period and a clean cross-off SW breeze at 6 mph – energy 208. That afternoon goes glassy with 4 ft at 11 seconds from the SE (energy 341), and it’s described as good surf. But Friday the 24th morning is the one: 4 ft SE swell, 11-second period, a light cross-off from the SSW at 3 mph, clean as a whistle, with energy at 401. This is the best-looking window – a proper groundswell with clean lines. The direction isn’t the optimum NE, but the quality and conditions make up for it. After that, Saturday the 25th drops off to nothing again.

So, to sum it up: the best on offer is the glassy, long-period Saturday morning on the 11th of July for a clean, small reef session, and then the Friday morning on the 24th of July for a bigger, punchier groundswell with clean wind. The middle of the week from the 13th to the 19th is a total miss, so plan around those two windows. This reef can get crowded sometimes, so keep that in mind.

Rusty.

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