Blacks Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s cooking in the water for the next couple of weeks. It’s been a bit quiet, but there’s a pulse of energy trying to build.

We’re looking at a stretch of small, clean conditions for a while, but the real action, the one that’s got me a little buzzin’, is that last week of the forecast. The first week is mostly mellow, with a few windows where the tide might be a bit off or the swell is just too weak to get excited about. The water temperature is sitting at about 71°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so you might not even need the full 4/3 for a dawn patrol.

The standout here is Blacks Beach. This is a consistent, exposed spot that handles the open ocean well. The best on offer is the period surrounding the 3rd and 4th of September. On the afternoon of the 3rd, we’ve got a clean, offshore wind with a 4ft swell from the south-southwest, but it’s the period that’s the story – a very long 21 seconds. That’s proper groundswell energy. The combined energy is a hefty 1259 (strong energy), which will push some serious lines through. The wind is light and offshore, meaning it might be glassy, which is a major plus. The next morning, Friday the 4th, is also looking promising. The swell jumps to 4ft, still from the south-southwest, with a period of 19 seconds. The energy is massive at 1279, but the wind is a light cross-onshore, which will still keep it pretty clean. This is advanced territory when it gets over 5ft, and at 4ft with that long period, it’s going to be a challenging but rewarding paddle out. Expect some proper sets that will be better shaped at a point or reef, but Blacks can handle it when it’s this long. It’s known to be a consistent break, so you won’t be waiting forever, but it’s often crowded, so be prepared for a full lineup.

The rest of the window is a bit of a slow burner. The first few days, from the 22nd up to the 28th, we see swell heights generally under 3ft, with periods between 13 and 19 seconds, but the wind is mostly light and onshore or cross-onshore. The combined energy is weak to moderate, mostly between 200 and 400. The surf is small and marginal. That little run of 2ft to 3ft swell from the 22nd to the 28th is just too weak to get your heart rate up, and the conditions are described as "poor" or "marginal."

Then we get a small bump around the 29th and 30th of August. The swell picks up to 3ft to 4ft, but the wind is still a light cross-onshore. The energy is moderate to strong (around 600 to 700), but the quality is still "marginal." It’s better than nothing, but it’s not the standout.

After that, the second week is a bit of a mixed bag. The 31st and 1st of September are small again, with 2ft to 3ft swells. Then on the 2nd, we get a short period (8 seconds) westerly swell of 4ft, but the cross-onshore wind will make it a bit messy, and the short period means it won't have much punch. The 5th and 6th of September see the swell dropping back from the 5ft peak, but it remains a decent size for the area, with clean cross-onshore wind.

So, to sum it up: the first week is a slow grind. The second week holds the promise. The real standout is the 3rd and 4th of September at Blacks Beach, where the combination of long period, strong energy, and offshore wind will offer the best waves of the whole 16-day window. If you’re after a dawn patrol session, that’s the one to circle on the calendar.

Rusty.

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