Blacks Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the cards for Blacks Reef. We've got a bit of a mixed bag coming our way, so let's break it down day by day.

The water is sitting at 53°F, which is a bit colder than we'd normally expect for this time of year. It's not a huge shock, but you'll want a decent wetsuit.

The start of the period is pretty quiet. We kick off Sunday the 23rd with a weak, short-period south swell pushing in. It's only 2ft with a combined energy of just 148, and that cross-offshore wind is making it messy. Not worth getting wet for. Monday morning the 24th sees a jump in size to 5ft, but the wind is straight cross-shore and the period is a short 9 seconds. The energy is picking up (362), but it's still only looking marginal.

Now, Monday afternoon the 24th is where things start to get interesting. The swell pushes up to 6ft from the south with a solid 14-second period. The combined energy jumps right up to 1370, which is solid moderate energy. That's a proper groundswell. The wind swings light offshore from the ENE, so the surface should be clean. This is the first real standout – this is for experienced surfers only at that size, but the quality is there for a good session.

Tuesday the 25th is a treat. The swell drops back a touch to 4ft, but the period is still a nice 12 seconds. The combined energy is a healthy 558. The wind is light and variable, going glassy in the afternoon. That is a recipe for clean, fun waves. Wednesday the 26th is smaller again, around 3ft to 3ft, but the period stretches out to a very long 17 seconds. The energy is moderate (around 490). That long period means the waves will be lined up and have plenty of push for their size. With glassy conditions in the morning and clean offshore winds in the afternoon, it’s a great day for a longboard or a fish.

Thursday the 27th is another cracker. The swell builds to 4ft in the morning and 6ft in the afternoon, all from the south with a super-long 17-second period. The combined energy hits 988 in the morning and a whopping 1919 in the afternoon – that's strong wave energy. This is the best on offer, no question. The wind is light and cross-offshore, keeping things clean. Again, the afternoon is for experienced surfers only. Friday the 28th holds some size at 5ft, but the wind picks up and the quality drops off into the marginal zone.

We hit a rough patch from Saturday the 29th right through to the end of the first week of September. The wind is all over the place, mostly onshore or strong cross-shore, and the swell quality takes a dive. There's a massive spike on Monday the 31st of August, with the swell predicted to be 12ft and energy at 3684, but the wind is cross-onshore and choppy. That's way too big for this spot and the conditions are blown out. It's more of a kitesurfing setup than a paddle session.

After that, we have a bit of a lull. Tuesday the 1st of September offers a bit of hope with a 3ft to 4ft south swell and a long 16-second period. The combined energy is solid (736 to 898), and we see some clean offshore wind in the afternoon. That's a promising window but it's a week and a half away, so don't bank on it just yet.

The rest of the first week of September is a write-off with strong winds and poor conditions. We finally see a return to clean, rideable waves on Sunday the 6th of September, with a small but clean 3ft to 3ft south groundswell and light winds. Monday the 7th is tiny again.

So, to sum it up: the standout sessions are Monday afternoon the 24th and all of Thursday the 27th for the experienced crew, with Tuesday the 25th and Wednesday the 26th being the pick for the rest of us. The long-range window around Tuesday the 1st of September is worth keeping an eye on, but it's a long way out.

Rusty.

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