Blacks Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s look at the next couple of weeks, and I gotta be straight with you: it’s a bit of a rollercoaster. We’ve got a solid window of clean surf kicking things off, then a proper sloppy mess mid-week, but there’s a real gem hiding in there for the experienced crew. Let’s break it down.

We start this Thursday afternoon at Blacks Reef with some decent energy. We're looking at 6ft of south swell at a 17-second interval, and that’s proper groundswell. The combined energy is strong, reading at 1929. It’s a bit of a punchy one, so not for the faint-hearted. The water is 54°F, which is a touch colder than you’d expect for late August, about two and a half degrees off, so you'll want the hood. It’s cross-off with light breeze, so it should be holding up clean. This is a standout for the experienced surfer. Also, it’s a reef, and this long period swell will be lining up nicely there.

Friday morning sees the swell ease a touch to 5ft, still from the south, with a 13-second period. The wind is true offshore, NNE at 15 mph. Energy is still solid at 915. This is gonna be very good, clean surf. A great morning. But by Friday afternoon, it’s dropping to 4ft and the wind swings more cross-off. Still surfable, but the magic is gone.

Saturday drops off further, with 3ft south swell, but the conditions stay clean and cross-off, so worth a paddle if you’re keen for a longboard.

Sunday is a write-off. It’s small, messy, and crossed up. No good.

Then, things get interesting and a little wild. Monday brings a big pulse of SW swell, hitting 10ft on the morning, but the period is a short 8 seconds, so it’s gonna be lumpy and unruly. By the afternoon, it’s 5ft but with a 15-second period and a cross-onshore 25 mph wind. The energy is strong (1903), but the conditions are choppy. This is not a paddle-surfing day. With that much swell and onshore wind on a reef, this has kite-surfing written all over it.

Tuesday is more of the same; the wind is onshore and there’s light rain. We’re getting 7ft to 8ft of SSW/S swell, but it’s all over the place. Not good.

But then, hold on. Wednesday morning, the second of September. The wind swings around to the northwest, cross-off, a light 6 mph breeze. The swell is still a healthy 7ft from the south, with a 12-second period. The energy is pumping at 1415. The comment says it all: excellent surf for experienced surfers. This is the second standout. It’s a big, powerful wave but on a reef like Black’s, with that offshore wind, it could be absolutely firing. The afternoon drops slightly to 6ft, but the wind goes straight offshore, north, at 6 mph. Clean lines, maybe a bit more manageable for the strong intermediate. This is the pick of the trip.

After that, it fades. Thursday and Friday are smaller, and the wind gets messy for Thursday. Friday morning has a bit of clean 3ft, but it’s nothing to get excited about. The weekend is small, in the 2ft to 2ft range, but Saturday afternoon goes glassy. Might be a fun log wave, but nothing critical.

The following week starts off flat and stays that way for a few days. It’s a real lull. Then things pick up again from the ninth, but the wind looks to be howling cross/offshore, making it messy. There’s a bit of swell on the 11th, 6ft, but it’s onshore and choppy. Looks like a blank run to end the period.

So, to sum it up: your two best shouts are Thursday afternoon and, even better, next Wednesday. The first is a strong intro; the second is the real deal. For the rest, you’re waiting on the wind to play nice. It’s the way of it, but when it’s on, it’s on.

Stay stoked.

Rusty.

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