Blacks Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s brewing for the next couple of weeks.

We’ve got a solid window of surf kicking off from Thursday the 27th of August, with a decent southerly groundswell that’s going to have some serious legs. This isn’t just a quick spike; there’s a good run of energy through the weekend, a bit of a hiccup, and then a return of some bigger, more powerful stuff early the following week. The water temp is sitting right where it should be for this time of year, so nothing spooky there.

The standout is definitely Blacks Reef. It’s an exposed reef break, very consistent, and it’s going to see the best of this swell. Thursday afternoon the 27th is looking prime. We’re talking a solid 7 ft of swell from the south, with a super long period of 17 seconds pushing in. That’s proper groundswell, tons of energy (2323), and the wind is going to be off from the east, keeping it clean. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers – the size and power will be too much for beginners. The crowd factor is something to be aware of here; it’s often a popular spot, so you’ll want to be in the water early.

Friday morning the 28th is also a good call. The swell drops to 5 ft from the south, with a 13-second period, and we get a clean offshore wind from the north-northeast. The energy is still strong (814). It’s a little smaller than Thursday, but the offshore breeze will make it glassy and perfect. This is a great session for anyone who can handle a solid reef break.

The swell backs off over the weekend into smaller, weaker waves. By Sunday the 30th, it drops to 2 ft, and things are pretty ordinary.

Then we get a pulse of bigger swell rolling in on Monday the 31st of August. We’re looking at 8 ft from the south-southwest, but the wind is cross-onshore. The energy is huge (over 2300), but it’s going to be a bit choppy and messy. Tuesday the 1st of September sees the swell peak at 10 ft from the south with a 13-second period and massive energy (2453). But again, the wind is cross-shore, so it’s marginal. This is a big, powerful south swell, perfect for experts only, but the wind is a real spoiler. It’s a situation where the setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing unless you’re a total charger.

Later in the week, the swell drops away again. We get a bit of a pulse on Thursday the 4th of September, with 4 ft and a 16-second period, but the wind is messy. The long period on that swell will be best at a point or reef, which is just what Blacks Reef is, but conditions are holding it back.

The second week is quiet. There’s a brief window of hope on Monday the 7th of September with a 2 ft, 18-second period south swell, and clean, light wind. The energy is moderate (232). It’s small and inconsistent, but if you’re desperate, it’s a surfable wave. After that, it’s pretty much flat with tiny, weak, wind-affected surf through to the 11th of September. Not a lot to get excited about.

So, to wrap it up: your best bet is Thursday afternoon the 27th and Friday morning the 28th of August at Blacks Reef for the best combination of size, power, and clean conditions. The big swell on the 1st of September has the power but the wind is going to make it a battle.

Rusty.

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