Blacks Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s on the table for the next couple of weeks.

Well, I gotta be straight with you – the next few days are a write-off. We’ve got a big, sloppy, onshore mess for the first week, with a massive 13 ft to 16 ft swell from the south and howling 19 mph to 25 mph winds slamming right into the coast. That’s not surf, that’s a washing machine. The combined swell energy is monstrous, reading between 3975 and 7149, but it’s all for nothing with that wind. On Thursday (6th August) it finally starts to drop, but it’s still cross-onshore and choppy, so you’re better off waiting.

The real window opens up on Friday morning, 7th August. That’s our standout. The swell drops to a solid 6 ft from the SSE, but the magic is in the wind – a light, 3 mph offshore breeze from the NW. That’s going to groom Blacks Reef into something special. The period is a clean 10 seconds, so it’ll have some push. The water is a bit colder than normal at 55°F, which is no surprise for this time of year. The combined energy is still moderate at 1059, but with that offshore wind, the conditions will be clean and lined up. This is for experienced surfers only, as it’s a reef break and the size is solid.

Friday afternoon keeps the good times rolling with a 5 ft south swell, but now the period jumps to a very long 16 seconds. That’s groundswell, and with a light cross-offshore breeze from the ENE, it’ll be glassy. Best for point breaks and reefs; this should be some of the best shape of the week.

Saturday morning, 8th August, is still worth a look. 6 ft from the south, 12-second period, and a light offshore from the NW. It’s still clean, but the energy is dropping a bit. After that, the swell fades through the weekend into small, average conditions.

Then we hit a flat spell. From Sunday 9th through Monday 10th, the swell drops to 4 ft to 4 ft, and the wind and rain make it messy. The combined energy plummets to 399. Not worth paddling out.

The next chance appears on Wednesday afternoon, 12th August. It’s a modest 7 ft from the SSE with an 11-second period, and a light offshore from the ENE. The combined energy is 908. It’s not a blockbuster, but it’s clean. Then Thursday 13th August is a real treat – a glassy morning with 5 ft from the SE and zero wind. That’s a rare, perfect morning for a mellow session. The energy is weak at 389, but you won’t care with that clean water.

The end of the second week gets messy again. By Saturday 15th August, the wind turns onshore and the swell period drops to a short 6-8 seconds. That’s windswell and it’s junk. The combined energy stays low, around 352 to 459.

Then from Sunday 16th August onwards, it gets ugly. We’re talking about a 12 ft to 13 ft easterly swell with onshore wind howling at 25 mph. The combined energy jumps back up to 1745 or even 3632. But with that wind, it’s a mess. On Wednesday 19th August, the swell is 13 ft from the SE with a 11-second period, and the wind is light and offshore, but the file warns it’s predicted to be too big for this break. That’s a solid 11/10 on the energy scale (3818), but only for the experts with a death wish.

So, the takeaway: Friday the 7th is the gold standard. Get on it. Thursday the 13th is the sleeper pick for a glassy, easy session. Everything else is either blown out, too small, or too big.

Rusty.

Read more