Cable Station Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. We’ve got a solid 16-day window with a lot of swell, but finding clean conditions will take some patience. The standout window is clear, though—Tuesday morning the 18th of August should be something special, and late in the run, we’ve got another beauty shaping up for Saturday the 29th of August. There are gaps with no surf recommendations here and there, mainly when winds are howling onshore.

Right from the off, Sunday the 16th of August kicks off with a clean but marginal call at Cable Station Reef. Swell is 6 ft from the WSW with a very long 16-second period (groundswell), but a fresh 19 mph NNE cross-offshore wind keeps things bumpy. The combined wave energy is moderate at 1531, so there’s push, but it’s not the best for the effort.

Monday the 17th of August goes downhill fast. A strong 22 mph NW cross-on wind with a lumpy 6 ft WSW swell (period 16 seconds, energy 1858) makes for poor conditions. By afternoon, it’s an 12 ft beast with a 28 mph onshore wind—only for the keenest, and even then, it’s ugly.

Now, Tuesday morning the 18th of August is the first true standout. Glassy conditions, zero wind, and a solid 12 ft WSW groundswell with a 16-second period (energy very strong at 5055). This is proper long-period, powerful swell. At a reef break, it should line up nicely, but at this size, it’s for experienced surfers only. The water temp is about average for the time of year over here. The wind is calm, so it’ll be smooth and clean. This is the best we’ll see for a while.

Wednesday the 19th and Thursday the 20th of August see the swell drop a little (8 ft–10 ft) but cross-on winds return, making it lumpy and marginal. Not worth paddling out.

Friday the 21st of August turns it around. Morning has a gentle 9 mph ENE offshore wind with a 8 ft WSW swell at a 15-second period (energy high at 2324). The afternoon goes glassy with an 8 ft swell and an ESE breeze so light it’s almost nothing—glassy conditions, excellent for experienced surfers. This is a strong runner-up for the best session.

The weekend of the 22nd and 23rd of August offers smaller swell (5 ft–6 ft) but clean conditions, especially Sunday with a light cross-offshore breeze and a 16-second period. More of a fun, manageable size for intermediates.

Then we hit a rough patch from Monday the 24th through to Thursday the 27th of August. Winds pick up, onshore, with lumpy surf and poor quality. Not much to get excited about.

Saturday the 29th of August is our other standout. Morning delivers glassy, calm conditions with a 7 ft WSW groundswell and a very long 18-second period (energy very strong at 3557). That long period means steep, powerful walls—excellent for experienced surfers. The afternoon gets choppy with a cross-shore wind, so make the most of the early session.

Sunday the 30th of August morning keeps the quality high: 10 ft WSW swell, 16-second period, light cross-offshore breeze, clean. Another expert-level day. By afternoon it bumps up to 13 ft, which is too big for this break.

Monday the 31st of August wraps things up with a glassy 10 ft morning, light wind, and excellent conditions for those who know what they’re doing.

In short: don’t miss Tuesday the 18th or Saturday the 29th of August. Mark your calendar.

Rusty.

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