Blacks Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's break down what's happening for the local stretch.

It's a rough start, with a real stormy few days, but we've got a couple of clean windows of solid swell that will light up the reef. Patience is the name of the game.

The first few days are a total loss. Wednesday and Thursday the 19th and 20th of August are just ugly – a big, messy swell from the South, with 15ft to 7ft of wind-blown junk, all pushed by a strong onshore breeze. The wave energy is huge (up to 5657), but it's a total mess. Don't even think about it.

The first real chance comes on Friday, the 21st of August. This is the standout. Blacks Reef will be on. The wind turns light and from the NNW and ENE, giving us clean, cross-off conditions. The swell drops to a much more manageable 6ft to 6ft, but it's a long-period, 16-second groundswell from the South. This is proper energy, with a combined energy reading of 2151. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so a 3/2mm wetsuit is the call. The reef will be handling that long period beautifully, delivering deep, powerful lines. This one is for the experienced surfers as the size and long period will be a handful for beginners. It's a consistent spot, but you can expect company as it's often crowded.

Saturday morning the 22nd still has a bit of leftover energy, with 4ft of South swell and a 12-second period, but the wind starts to shift, making it less perfect. The session fades fast into the afternoon. Sunday and Monday are small and weak, with combined energy dropping below 411 – not worth the paddle.

We get a little reprieve on Tuesday the 25th of August. The swell is small (3ft) but the real highlight is the glassy, dead-calm wind from the North in the afternoon. Combined with a 12-second period, the waves will be tiny but clean and fun on a longboard if you're keen.

The second week is a mixed bag with a couple of promising days. Thursday the 27th of August sees a small but clean 2ft to 3ft South swell with a nice offshore wind from the NE. It's gentle and clean, good for a quiet session. Then Friday the 28th of August morning has a bit more size (4ft) and a long 16-second period, but the wind is a bit messy. The afternoon improves with clean offshore winds.

The real wildcard lands on Monday, the 31st of August. A solid 8ft South swell with a 15-second period rolls in, carrying a massive combined energy of 2457. The wind is light and cross-onshore, which will mess up the surface. It's a big, powerful groundswell that will be tricky at the reef, but for the experts, it could be a proper session. Keep an eye on it, but the quality isn't quite there to call it a standout.

The very end of the forecast, on Thursday the 3rd of September, looks like another good one. A clean 6ft South swell with a 12-second period, combined with a light offshore wind from the North, giving us 1039 in combined energy. This is another excellent window for experienced surfers, with clean, powerful waves.

So, to wrap it up: Friday the 21st of August is the absolute best on offer – that clean, long-period South swell at Blacks Reef is a must-surf. The Monday the 31st of August and Thursday the 3rd of September are also promising, but less certain this far out.

Rusty.

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