Blacks Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G'day, Rusty here. Alright, let’s look at what’s shaping up over the next couple of weeks. We’ve got some solid swell coming, but you’ve gotta be patient and pick your spots. The water is sitting at 55°, which is a bit colder than usual for this time of year, so you’ll want a thicker wetsuit.

The first real action kicks off on Sunday the 19th of July. Blacks Reef is the only spot on the menu, and it’s a reliable reef break that’s exposed to the south. Sunday morning we’ve got a solid 7ft southerly groundswell with a very long 18-second period, pumping a ton of energy into the water (3284). It’s a big one, but the wind is light and cross-onshore, so it’s gonna be a little bumpy. Still, for a bigger wave, it’s a decent start. That afternoon, the wind swings onshore and gets stronger, so it’s a write-off.

Monday the 20th sees the swell drop a bit to 6ft, but the period is still a nice 15 seconds. The wind is onshore again, though, so it’s messy. The afternoon picks up to 8ft with a 19-second period (4132 energy), which is huge, but again, the wind is onshore, making it a fight. Not the best.

Tuesday the 21st is similar – 8ft southerly groundswell, 16-second period, but the wind is light and cross-onshore, so it’s not clean. A bit frustrating.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Wednesday morning the 22nd of July, the swell drops to a more manageable 4ft, but the period is a solid 12 seconds. The key here is the wind – it’s glassy. Dead calm. That’s a major positive. The waves will be clean as a whistle, but it’s a bit smaller. The energy is moderate (540). It’s a good little session for the beginners, but it’s not the standout.

The real standout is looking like Friday the 31st of July. The morning session has a solid 10ft southerly groundswell with a 13-second period, and the energy is strong (3022). The wind is a light cross-offshore from the NNW, which is perfect for a reef break like this – it’s going to be clean and hollow. This is for experienced surfers only, as it’s over 8ft. The afternoon drops to 8ft, still clean, and still a good option for the crew who know what they’re doing. Crowds are likely here, so get out early.

The following Monday, the 3rd of August, also looks promising. Morning has a 7ft southerly swell with an 11-second period, and the wind is offshore from the north. That’s a solid, clean, expert-level wave. The energy is strong (1268). The afternoon is a bit smaller at 6ft, but still clean and a good option for the advanced crew.

Outside of those windows, there are a lot of days with poor conditions – strong winds, onshore slop, or just tiny waves. We’ve got a gap from the 22nd afternoon all the way through to the 30th with no real recommendations, so that’s a long stretch of flat or messy water. The 30th actually has a huge 12ft to 13ft southerly swell, but it’s being hammered by a fresh onshore wind, so that’s a total write-off – more of a kite-surfing day than a surfing day.

So, to sum it up: the best of the best is Friday the 31st of July – big, clean, and powerful. The 3rd of August is a solid backup. Everything else is either too small, too windy, or both. Keep your eyes on the forecast, but for now, that’s the call.

Rusty.

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