Blacks Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.

We’ve got a solid run of south swell heading our way, but this isn’t one for the faint-hearted. The standout window is this Friday the 17th and into the weekend, with a hefty groundswell pushing in. Blacks Reef is the main player here, and it’s looking like a jetty for experienced surfers only.

Friday morning on the 17th is the pick of the bunch. We’re looking at a 5ft SE groundswell with a very long 16-second period, and it’s glassy. The water temperature is about average for the time of year, nothing unusual. The combined energy is strong at 1445, and with that glassy wind, the reef will be offering up some clean, powerful lines. It’s a bit big for beginners, but for the crew that knows what they’re doing, it’s going to be firing. Crowds are often here, so expect company.

Friday afternoon stays clean with a cross-off breeze, and the swell bumps up to 6ft, still with that long 16-second period. Energy jumps to 1854. This is still excellent, expert-only territory.

Saturday the 18th is a step down in quality. The wind goes cross-shore in the morning, and while the swell is still 5ft from the SE, the period drops to 14 seconds. The combined energy is still moderate at 1431, but the wind is just not as clean. The afternoon brings a weird shift: a 4ft S swell with a super long 24-second period and onshore wind. That long period at a reef can be a bit tricky, and the wind is ruining it. This one’s a pass.

Sunday the 19th sees the swell build again – 7ft from the S with an 18-second period in the morning. That’s a lot of water moving, with combined energy hitting 3239. But it’s a cross-on wind, so it’ll be a bit lumpy. Definitely only for experts, and the wind is a buzzkill. Afternoon is similar but smaller.

Monday the 20th and Tuesday the 21st are a mixed bag. Monday is cross-on and the swell is dropping. Monday morning is 6ft S (1616 energy), but that wind is a nuisance. Tuesday morning is bigger at 8ft S (2907 energy), but it’s raining and cross-shore. The real bright spot on Tuesday is the afternoon: the wind goes glassy, the swell is 7ft S (2097 energy), and the conditions are excellent. That’s a solid session for the experienced.

After Tuesday, things drop off. Wednesday the 22nd is much smaller, with weak energy in the 500s and 300s, and the wind is either cross-on or onshore. Not worth paddling out. Thursday and Friday are tiny, with energy barely cracking 100. Small, clean but very ordinary.

The following week from the 25th of July onward is a letdown. The swell is small and inconsistent. There’s a brief moment on Saturday the 25th afternoon with a 3ft SE swell, a 17-second period, and clean cross-off wind – that’s the best of a weak bunch. The energy is 352, which is weak. The 26th Sunday afternoon has glassy conditions with a 3ft SE swell, but it’s still small. The rest of that week is a write-off: onshore winds, rain, and tiny, weak surf. The 27th Monday is a mess with strong onshore winds and poor surf.

The best of the best is Friday the 17th morning. That’s your session. After that, Tuesday the 21st afternoon is the next real standout. The rest is for the die-hards or the kite surfers when the wind is up and the waves are messy.

Stay safe out there.

Rusty.

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