Cactus Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here with a look at what’s ahead for Cactus.

Right now, we’re in a bit of a waiting game. The first real chance to paddle out comes on Wednesday morning, September 2nd. It’s not a classic, but there’s a 4ft SW groundswell (830) with a 16-second period, so the waves will have some punch. The wind is light and offshore from the WSW, which means clean conditions. The water is sitting at 60°, which is about average for this time of year. It’s a reef setup, so keep an eye on the tide. From Wednesday afternoon through to Friday, the wind gets stronger and onshore, the surf gets lumpy and messy, and honestly, I’d give it a miss.

Thursday morning, September 3rd, sees a 5ft SW swell (1033) but the wind is a cross-on light breeze, so it’s just okay. Friday morning, September 4th, has a 7ft SW swell (1799) with a clean cross-off wind from the north, but the easterly is blowing 19 mph, so it’s a bit of a battle. Still, the waves will have shape.

The standout window opens on Sunday morning, September 6th. The swell drops to 6ft from the SW (1123), but the wind is a clean offshore from the ENE at 16 mph. It’s a moderate breeze, but it’s offshore, so expect clean, lined-up waves. The period is 14 seconds, so there’s decent energy. This is the best session of the first week.

After that, the surf gets small and messy through the start of the second week. Monday, September 7th, is a write-off with tiny 2ft swell and strong winds. Tuesday, September 8th, morning sees a 6ft SW swell (1709) with a long 17-second period, but the wind is a stiff cross-off from the ESE at 19 mph. It’s clean, but strong.

Now, the real one to lock in your calendar: Thursday morning, September 17th. This is the standout of the entire outlook. We’ve got a 10ft SSW groundswell with a very long 18-second period and a combined energy of 5785 – that’s strong, powerful stuff. The wind is light and offshore from the east at 6 mph, so it’ll be glassy and clean. This is exceptional surf, but at 10ft, it’s strictly for experienced surfers. The long period will make it hollow and fast, perfect for a reef. Crowds are possible here, so get there early. This is the one.

The rest of the second week is a mix of small, cross-shore winds and average conditions. Not worth chasing.

So, to sum it up: your best bet is Sunday morning, September 6th for a clean, fun-size swell, and the absolute standout is Thursday morning, September 17th – a big, powerful, clean groundswell for the experts. Get out there.

Rusty.

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