Blacks Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, let's get into it. We've got one spot on the radar and it's lookin' like a bit of a slow burn before it lights up. First off, the water is sittin' at 54°, which is a good couple of degrees colder than usual for this time of year – you'll be wantin' a thick wetsuit for Blacks Reef.

The pattern starts off with some solid size but it's not all clean. On Friday, August 21st, we get that first pulse of southern groundswell hitting 6ft with a long 16-second period, and the combined energy is strong at (1504). The wind is a cross-off, so the sets will be clean, but that size and the power mean this is one for the experienced crew only. It's a solid start.

Saturday morning, August 22nd, drops down to a more manageable 4ft, still a clean southern swell with a 12-second period. The wind stays light and cross-off, makin' for some fun, user-friendly waves. The energy drops to moderate (425), so it's a good time for the guys who aren't quite ready for the big stuff on Friday.

Sunday the 23rd is a write-off. The wind howls out of the NW at 15-19 mph, and the swell drops away. It’s small and choppy, just ugly out there.

Monday the 24th is a mixed bag. Morning is blown out with a cross-onshore wind, but the afternoon brings a new, longer-period swell. We get 6ft at 13 seconds from the south, with energy back up to strong (1105). The wind swings to a light cross-shore, so it's not glassy but it's ridable. The score says it's marginal because of tide, so you've gotta pick your window.

Tuesday the 25th through to the end of the month is pretty average. Swell hangs around waist-high or smaller, and the wind is either onshore or cross-shore with chop. There's a little window on Wednesday morning, August 26th, where the swell is only 3ft but the period jumps to a very long 18 seconds – that's a pure groundswell. Wind is a slight cross-off, so it'll be clean. It's small, but the energy (586) for that size shows how much push is in it. Best for a longboard or a high-performance fish.

Now, things start to get real interestin' on Thursday the 27th. Morning has 5ft at 14 seconds from the south, clean cross-off wind, and strong energy (1228). Then the afternoon gets even better: 6ft at 17 seconds, clean as a whistle with light cross-off breeze, and the energy is a massive (2206). This is a standout window. That long period will line up beautifully on this reef, giving smooth, grinding walls. The size is still in the sweet spot for experienced surfers.

The run continues through Friday morning, August 28th, with 6ft at 14 seconds and more clean cross-off wind (1167 energy). It's another excellent, powerful morning.

There's a bit of a lull over the weekend of the 29th and 30th, with smaller swell and building wind, but don't tune out. Look at Thursday, September 3rd. The morning shows a massive 12ft southern swell at 15 seconds with a massive energy rating (4822) and light offshore wind. That is potentially the biggest swell of the whole outlook, but the guidance tells us it's actually too big for Blacks Reef at that size – only nuts or tow-in crew would even look at it. Stick to the afternoon session that day, when it drops to a still-heavy 8ft at 13 seconds, the wind stays a clean cross-off, and energy is still very strong (2581). This is for experts only, but it'll be a hell of a show.

Friday the 4th and Saturday the 5th of September see the swell back down into the fun, manageable range. Saturday morning is a magic moment: a 3ft southerly swell with 15-second period, and the wind is glass. That is going to be as clean as it gets, with a beautiful long period rolling in. Perfect for anyone who just wants to enjoy the ocean.

So the real standouts are the afternoon of Thursday the 27th and the afternoon of Thursday the 3rd of September. The first one is a straight-up quality session with clean, powerful lines. The second is for the heavy hitters only, a real beast of a swell. Get on it.

- Rusty

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