Blacks Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Rusty here again, let's talk about Blacks Reef in terms you might be more used to.

It's a rough opening act, honestly. The start of the period is a total loss. Monday the 17th through Wednesday the 19th are getting hammered by strong onshore winds and a big, unruly swell. We're talking 10ft to 15ft of Southern Ocean mess with a crazy amount of energy (2935 to 5955). That's not surfing, that's a survival drill. Unless you love a beating, give it a miss.

Thursday the 20th sees the swell start to drop, but it's still messy with a cross-onshore wind. The energy is still high (1092 to 1826), but the conditions are only marginal.

Now, here's the one to circle. Friday the 21st of August is your window. It's not the biggest day, with waves around 5ft to 5ft from the South, but the wind goes completely glassy in the afternoon. That 16-second period is a proper, long-period groundswell, which on a reef like this should set up beautifully. The water is a bit colder than average at 54°, so you'll want the thick wetsuit, but with clean conditions and a solid pulse of energy (1396), it's going to be excellent for experienced surfers. That morning kicks off clean with a light offshore, too, so the whole day is worth the effort. Crowds are likely here, but for quality like that, it's worth sharing the takeoff zone.

Saturday the 22nd and Sunday the 23rd drop right off. The swell gets tiny, under 3ft, and the cross-shore wind ruins whatever's left. Not worth the paddle.

Early the next week, Monday the 24th and Tuesday the 25th see a little bump of S/SSW swell returning, around 4ft to 5ft, and the winds are kind with light offshores. The energy is moderate (181 to 811), so it's surfable and clean, but nothing to get too worked up about.

There's a potential second window late in the outlook. Wednesday the 26th of August shows a bigger pulse of 7ft to 8ft S swell, with a 15-second period and the wind holding cross-offshore. The energy is strong at 2440, but the forecast for the conditions is only marginal. It could be a little raw. The following days, Thursday the 27th and Friday the 28th, get blown out again by strong onshore winds.

By Sunday the 30th of August, it looks like it might clean right up. The morning is looking glassy with a 6ft S swell (energy 754) – that's a promising setup, but it's a long way out. After that, we're back into onshore wind and small dribble.

To sum it up: Friday the 21st is your standout by a long shot. Clean, lined-up, groundswell. The wave energy is strong (2935) midweek but it's poor quality. There might be a smaller but clean window early the next week, and maybe another glassy morning on the 30th, but those are less certain.

Keep the wax warm for Friday.

Rusty.

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