Blacks Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, it’s Rusty here, and I’ve got the rundown on Blacks Reef for the next couple of weeks. This spot is a protected reef break that loves a solid south groundswell, and let me tell you, there’s some serious energy heading our way mid-period, but we’ve got to work through some wind and size issues first to get to the good stuff.

Right now, the water is sitting around 53°F which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year—you’ll want the thick rubber. The ocean’s got a pulse of long-period south swell in the water, but it’s inconsistent. Wednesday morning starts off with some clean 3ft surf at 18 seconds, light cross-off winds out of the NW. It’s surfable but just a hint of what’s to come. The afternoon cleans right up to glassy conditions, still around 3ft, and the energy is moderate. Not a standout, but a nice way to ease into it.

Thursday is where things start to wake up. The morning brings 5ft of south groundswell, but the wind swings onshore from the SW, making it a bit of a washout. By Thursday afternoon, the swell pushes up to 7ft from the south with 17 seconds of period, and the easterly breeze is cross-off. The wave energy jumps to strong, and the report says it’s excellent for experienced surfers. That’s a good call. It’s still manageable for a strong intermediate, but the power is definitely up.

Friday morning is looking clean with a gentle NNE offshore wind and 5ft at 13 seconds. The energy is moderate. It’s a solid, fun morning, but then the afternoon gets a bit messy as the wind drops and clouds roll in, with the swell easing to 4ft. Saturday sees the swell fade to under 3ft and the wind turns cross-off from the north, but it’s all pretty average—just clean little waves for a longboard.

Then we hit a bit of a lull. Sunday is poor—small, weak, cross-shore wind and barely any energy. The swell drops to nothing. Monday morning brings a jump in size, but it’s onshore and messy, and the wave comment says questionable tide. Not worth it. The real gem is Monday afternoon. The swell jumps to 10ft from the south with a 14-second period, and the wind turns light cross-off out of the ENE. The wave energy is very strong, and it’s clean as a whistle. This is an expert-only wave—anything over 8ft is a big, heavy reef break. For the crew who know Blacks Reef, this will be the session of the period. Paddling out will be a mission, but the sets will be incredible.

Tuesday the 1st of September sees the swell build even more, hitting 12ft. But the forecast calls it too big for this break, even with favorable wind. It’ll be a washing machine even if it’s technically clean. I’d give that a miss unless you’re a total charger and know the reef better than your own backyard. By Wednesday the 2nd, it’s still pushing 8ft, but strong WNW winds churn up the surface. That’s a mess. We drop back down through the end of the week—Thursday sees some lumpy cross-on conditions, but Friday afternoon on the 4th of September looks interesting. Swell jumps back to 8ft from the south with a 19-second period, and it’s cross-off from the NW with strong energy. It’s a big, long-period groundswell, so expect long waits between sets, but when they come, they’ll be solid. This is another expert-only window, and the long period could make it breaking a bit too straight at this reef, but it should still hold plenty of shape.

After that, the surf runs out of gas. The second week is mostly small and weak. There’s a couple of days of clean but tiny waves—like the 10th of September, with 4ft to 4ft at short periods and light offshore winds. It’s surfable, but ordinary. The last few days are just flat and poor, with strong onshore winds and rain moving in. We’re looking at a solid blank run from around the 7th all the way through the end of the window, barring that small bump on the 10th.

So, to sum it up: the standout sessions are Thursday afternoon the 27th and Monday afternoon the 31st of August. The Monday one is bigger and more powerful, but it’s a serious wave. For the everyday surfer, Thursday afternoon will be the best balance of size, clean conditions, and a manageable crowd possibility—it says crowds are often, so expect some company. Just remember, the big days are for experts only. Stay safe out there.

Rusty

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