Cactus Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, pull up a stump, grab a coffee. Rusty here. Let's have a look at what old Cactus is offering up.

We’ve got a bit of a mixed bag ahead, but there are definitely some windows of opportunity if you’re patient. That southwest groundswell is the main player, and it’ll be pulsing through the whole sixteen days, but the wind is the joker in the pack. For the most part, it’s going to be too onshore or too strong to make the most of it, so you’ll need to pick your moments.

The water temp is sitting about average for the time of year, so nothing surprising there.

The first real chance comes on Thursday, 17th September. That morning is still a bit average with a 12 mph cross-off wind on a 4ft, 14-second swell, but the real gem is Thursday afternoon. The wind switches to a light offshore breeze, the swell cleans right up to 4ft, and the guidance says it’s on. That’s the standout session of the first week – clean lines and a bit of space.

After that, it goes a bit flat and bumpy. Friday the 18th drops off to under 3ft, and then we’ve got a rough patch right through the weekend and into the start of the next week with strong onshore winds and messy conditions. The combined wave energy is low, so it's not worth the paddle.

Monday, 21st September, looks promising again. The morning brings another clean window – a light offshore wind, and a 4ft, 13-second swell. It’s not huge, but it'll be clean and lined up. That’s your next best. The energy is moderate but with the offshore breeze, it’ll feel better than the number suggests.

Tuesday the 22nd is a step up in size to 5ft but the wind gets tricky again with a strong cross-off. By Wednesday, it’s back to onshore crud.

Now, here’s the interesting bit. Thursday, 24th September, is a beauty. Light winds, cross-off, 4 to 4ft of consistent SW swell. It’s a proper clean session all day. That’s a classic Cactus morning.

Then it gets gnarly. Saturday, 26th September, a big swell arrives – 8ft at 19 seconds. That’s a very long period groundswell, pumping. The combined energy is strong. This is expert territory. But the problem is the onshore wind is howling and there’s heavy rain. Too lumpy and too heavy for a good paddle.

Sunday the 27th has a similar story – still 7ft of swell but onshore and messy.

The very last session on Tuesday, 30th September, is another cracker. Light offshore, clean, 4ft, 14-second groundswell. It’ll be a clean finish to the run.

So, the best of the lot? Thursday 24th and Tuesday 30th September. Those mornings with the light E/SE breeze and those tidy 4ft-4ft groundswells are your guaranteed clean waves. Keep an eye on this Thursday 17th afternoon and Monday 21st morning as the secondary highlights. Cactus can be a fickle spot with the wind, but when it lines up like this, it's a gem.

Rusty.

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