Blacks Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, let’s have a look at what’s on offer. The 16-day window kicks off with a reef setup that’s exposed to the south, but the first few days are a bit of a write-off. We’ve got a real mix of conditions coming through, with a couple of standouts to keep an eye on, but plenty of ordinary stuff in between.

The water temperature is sitting at 55°, which is about 1° cooler than normal for this time of year – nothing too wild, just a bit of an autumn nip.

First up, Blacks Reef. Monday the 7th starts with a weak 1.0ft SSW groundswell, period a very long 16 seconds, but it’s cross-offshore and only pushing 88 in combined energy. It’s surfable but very ordinary, and the afternoon turns into a write-off with onshore wind and a messy 6ft S swell. Tuesday the 8th is a nightmare – strong onshore winds, 12ft of SSE swell, and a combined energy of 1648, but it’s just poor, lumpy conditions. Not for paddling.

Wednesday the 9th shows some life. The morning is marginal with a cross-on breeze and 5ft SE swell, but the afternoon cleans up nicely. A light east breeze, 4ft SE swell, 8-second period, and 251 energy. It’s clean, small, and fun for a beginner. That’s your first real window of the outlook.

Thursday the 10th is a mixed bag. The morning has a cross-shore breeze and 3ft SE swell, but it’s not great. The afternoon turns glassy with 3ft SE swell – very clean but small. Friday the 11th is a write-off again with onshore wind and a messy 7ft S swell. The afternoon has a 2ft S groundswell with a long 18-second period, but it’s onshore. Not worth it.

The weekend of the 13th and 14th is where things get interesting. Sunday the 13th morning is a standout: a clear sky, a gentle cross-shore breeze, and a solid 8ft S groundswell. The period is a very long 16 seconds, and the combined energy is a hefty 3634. This is a proper swell, but it’s a long-period groundswell, so at a reef break it should handle it well. It’s a bit on the bigger side, so better for those with some experience. The wind is cross, so it’ll be clean. The afternoon drops off slightly with 8ft and onshore wind, but the morning is the pick.

Monday the 14th keeps the energy going with 6ft S groundswell, 14-second period, and a combined energy of 1301. The wind is a light cross-on, so it’s rideable but not perfect. The afternoon is similar.

Tuesday the 15th afternoon is another clean window: 4ft S groundswell, 12-second period, and a light cross-off breeze. It’s small but clean. The rest of the week into the 18th has some big pulses – 10ft on Friday the 18th – but the wind is onshore or cross-on, making it messy and choppy. That one’s more for the kite crowd than paddle surfers.

The final standout is Saturday the 19th. The morning has a 4ft SSE swell, 8-second period, and a clean cross-off breeze. The afternoon is glassy with 2ft SSW groundswell, 14-second period, and 269 energy. It’s small, but glassy and clean – perfect for a cruiser session.

The tail end of the outlook from the 20th onwards is mostly small, weak, or onshore, with a few marginal moments. Sunday the 22nd has a 3ft S groundswell with a very long 20-second period, but it’s cross-on, so not ideal.

All in all, the best of the bunch is Sunday the 13th morning – that 8ft S groundswell with clean cross-shore wind is the real highlight. The Saturday the 19th afternoon glass-off is a close second for a small, clean session.

Rusty.

Read more