Blacks Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s cooking for our local reef setup.

We’ve got a solid run of waves coming through, but it’s a bit of a mixed bag. The main event is a good-sized, long period south swell that pushes through this weekend, but it’s not all clean. The water is sitting at 54°, which is a bit colder than what we’d usually expect for this time of year, so don’t forget the extra rubber.

Blacks Reef is the only spot on the radar, and it’s a reef break that’s exposed to the south. It’s very consistent, which is a massive plus, but it can get crowded, so keep that in mind.

The real standout is Saturday morning, August 8th. We’ve got a solid 7ft south swell, with a 12-second period, putting a ton of energy into the water (2388). The wind is a light 3 mph from the north-west, which is a clean, cross-off breeze. This is going to be excellent, clean surf for experienced surfers. The wave energy is moderate, but that long period groundswell means the waves will have shape and power. It’s the best on offer.

Sunday morning, August 9th, is also a good call. The swell drops to 4ft from the south, but the wind is pure offshore from the north at 9 mph. The energy is still decent (666), and it’ll be clean. A solid session for a Sunday.

After that, the swell really fades. Monday through to the following Saturday sees tiny, weak waves with poor conditions. The energy drops right off into the double digits, and the wind is mostly onshore or cross. There’s a long gap of flat, messy conditions here.

Then, we get a little flicker of life. Sunday afternoon, August 16th, the wind goes glassy – a light 3 mph from the west – and a 6ft south-southwest swell rolls in. The period is short at 6 seconds, so it’ll be a bit soft and bumpy, but total glassy conditions are rare. Worth a paddle if you’re jonesing.

Monday afternoon, August 17th, brings a cleaner 7ft swell from the south-southwest with a 10-second period and light cross-off winds. The energy is building again (947), and it’ll be clean.

Now, look out for the pulse around August 20th. The swell is predicted to be massive – 13ft from the south – but the wind is going to be a strong cross-shore. The wave energy is going to be off the charts (4942), but this is for experts only. It’s way too big for most, and the wind isn’t ideal. The following days, the size drops but the wind stays messy.

The tail end of the outlook, around August 21st and 22nd, is just average. The swell is there, but the wind is onshore, making it sloppy. Not worth getting excited about.

So, the headline is clear: Saturday morning, August 8th is your best bet. The next best is Sunday morning, August 9th, then keep an eye on Monday the 17th afternoon. The big swell around the 20th is for the brave and the crazy.

Stay wet, and check the tides.

- Rusty

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