Camel Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, and I’ve got to be straight with you – the next couple of weeks around Camel Rock are looking pretty grim for most of it. The sandbar’s gonna be a frustrating place to be for a while, but there’s one absolute beauty of a window if you’ve got the patience.

Right now, starting Sunday the 23rd of August, it’s a tough scene. We’ve got small, weak swell coming in from the NW at around 3 ft, but it’s a messy, short-period wind swell (7 seconds) and the cross-onshore breeze is chopping it all up. The combined swell energy is a weak 175, so there’s just no grunt in the water. This poor run keeps going through the whole week. Monday the 24th brings a tiny 2 ft SW swell, but it’s a long-period groundswell (18 seconds) which is not ideal for a beach break like this – it’ll break too straight and fat. The cross and cross-onshore winds keep it ugly. The water temperature is 58°, which is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

We’re looking at a solid 12-day stretch of nothing worth paddling out for. The waves stay small, under 3 ft, and the wind just won’t cooperate. The best we get are a few “marginal” tags on the 28th, 31st, and a couple of days in early September, but that’s just code for ‘maybe you’ll get one fun one if the tide lines up’. The combined swell energy is mostly in the 100 to 400 range – weak to moderate at best – and always with a cross or cross-onshore touch.

Now, hold on to your board, because it all changes on the weekend of the 5th and 6th of September. That’s over a week away, so it’s a long-range call, but it looks like a ripper.

Saturday the 5th of September afternoon is the first real spark. The swell is a clean 2 ft from the SW, period of 16 seconds, and the wind goes glassy. The combined energy hits 465 (moderate), and it’s the first time we see a “good surf conditions” tag. It’ll be small and clean – perfect for a longboard or a fun session on a fish.

But the real standout is Sunday the 6th of September. The afternoon is the pick of the entire outlook. We get a solid 6 ft swell from the WNW, with a period of 11 seconds – that’s proper groundswell energy. The wind is glassy, and the combined swell energy jumps to a strong 928. This is the best on offer. The swell direction (WNW) matches the optimum for Camel Rock, and with offshore winds from the NNW, it’s going to be clean and lined up. The 6 ft is a bit punchy for beginners, but it’s a fantastic size for anyone with a bit of experience. Just keep in mind, it’s a sandbar, so it might get a little inconsistent, but when it’s on, it’ll be worth the wait.

The early part of the following week, Monday the 7th of September, still has some leftover swell around 6 ft to 6 ft, but the wind swings cross-onshore, so it won’t be as clean as Sunday. Still, if you miss the Sunday glass-off, Monday morning might offer a few if you’re desperate.

So, to sum it up: the next 12 days are a write-off. Don’t bother. But mark your calendar for the afternoon of Sunday the 6th of September. That’s the one. Smooth, glassy, solid groundswell. It’s a long way out, but it’s looking like a cracker.

Rusty.

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