Blacks Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Gonna break down the next couple of weeks at Blacks Reef for ya. It’s a bit of a slow burner, but there’s some real magic hiding in the long-range forecast.

The week kicks off on Tuesday, 25th August, with a fun little pulse. We’re looking at a clean 4ft to 4ft south swell rolling in with a nice 12-second period. The wind is light and variable, going glassy in the afternoon. Wave energy is moderate (417-467), and the water temp is sitting about average for the time of year. It’s not huge, but it’s clean, and the sets will have a bit of push. This is a great window for the beginner-friendly reef.

Wednesday, 26th August, is even better. The swell drops a touch to 3ft-3ft, but the period jumps to a very long 16-18 seconds. That’s proper groundswell energy, and the combined energy (515-546) is actually a tick higher. The wind is offshore on the morning and glassy in the afternoon. This is a classic Blacks Reef day – long, clean lines, easy paddling between sets. The consistency is very high, so you won’t be waiting long.

Thursday, 27th August, sees a size jump. The morning gets a bit messy with a cross-onshore breeze on a 6ft swell, but the afternoon is the real story. The swell hits 7ft from the south with a 17-second period, and it’s clean with a cross-offshore breeze. The combined energy is strong (2825). This is expert territory – over 8ft, it’s for experienced surfers only. The reef will be handling it well, but the power is serious.

Friday, 28th August, stays good. The morning offers a clean 5ft with a nice offshore breeze and moderate energy (798). The afternoon is a bit smaller and windier, but still clean. It’s a solid day.

The weekend, 29th-30th August, fades out. The swell drops below 3ft, and the energy drains away (down to 35 by Sunday arvo). The waves are still glassy, but tiny. This is a good time to clean the wax off your board.

We hit a dry spell from Monday, 31st August, through to Wednesday, 2nd September. The swell is small, periods are short, and the wind is mostly onshore or cross-shore. There’s a blip on Monday afternoon with a 3ft south swell and a 16-second period, but it’s blowing onshore, so it’s messy. Not worth paddling out for.

Now, the stand-out. Mark your calendars for Tuesday, 1st September. The morning brings a 10ft south swell with a 14-second period. The combined energy is massive (3574). That’s a powerful, heavy groundswell. The wind is offshore, light and clean. This is a true expert-only session. The reef will be a furnace, but for the few who can handle it, it’s the best wave of the forecast. The afternoon is still good, but a bit smaller and windier (8ft, 2237 energy).

The rest of the first week of September is a mixed bag. Wednesday, 2nd September, has a clean 5ft morning, but it’s windy. From Thursday, 3rd, through Friday, 4th, the wind swings onshore and the swell is junky with short periods. The setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing on those days.

We get one more window on Saturday, 5th September. The morning is magic: 5ft south swell, 13-second period, glassy conditions, and clean. The energy is solid (826). This is a beautiful, clean day for a paddle. The afternoon gets a bit bumpy with cross-shore wind.

After that, the forecast drops right off into tiny, weak waves with very low energy (20-37) through to 9th September. There’s a flicker of life on the 9th with a 5ft south-southwest swell, but the period is short (8 seconds) and the wind is strong. Not worth the drive.

So, the best on offer is the glassy morning of Saturday, 5th September, for a clean, fun swell. But the absolute standout is Tuesday, 1st September – that’s the big one for the experts. Get on it if you’ve got the skills.

Rusty.

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