Campbells Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's talk about what's shaping up for Campbells over the next couple of weeks, and I gotta be straight with you – it’s a tough stretch.

This is a reef break that’s pretty inconsistent at the best of times, and we’re in for a long run of challenging conditions. The water is sitting at about 82°F right now, which feels pretty normal for this time of year, nothing wild there.

The main issue? The best swell direction for Campbells is a south-southwest, and we get plenty of that, but we just can't get the wind to play ball. For the first week, into the start of September, the wind is hammering from the east and east-northeast, usually a fresh breeze, blowing cross-off. It’s not terrible, but it’s gusty enough to mess with the surface. The swell hangs around 2ft to 4ft, with periods mostly between 13 and 18 seconds – decent groundswell energy there, with the combined energy showing moderate to strong numbers, but the quality just isn't there. The forecasters are calling it poor or marginal at best. There is a little moment on the morning of Wednesday the 26th of August where the wind goes offshore, and the swell bumps up to 3ft at 18 seconds from the S, giving moderate energy, but that’s about as good as it gets in that first week.

We get another little flicker of hope on Monday the 31st of August. Monday morning we see a light breeze from the ENE, the swell is a clean 2ft at 15 seconds from the SSW. The afternoon also shows an offshore wind with moderate energy. The forecast even says “expect good surf conditions” but the overall score just isn't high enough to call it a standout.

Then it’s back into the grinder. From the start of September through to the 8th, it’s more of the same – fresh, strong cross-off winds, and the swell, while sometimes having serious long-period energy (up to 20 seconds on the 5th of September), is just blown out. The combined energy gets up to strong levels by the afternoon of the 6th of September from the SSW at 4ft and 17 seconds, but again, the wind ruins it. For a spot like Campbells with that long-period groundswell, the reef setup can handle it, but the wind has to be right, and it’s just not cooperating.

Look, I can't point you to a single day that’s a true standout. This is a two-week period where the wind is king, and the king is a bit of a jerk. If you’re a die-hard for the break and you can deal with choppy, bumpy waves, there are waves to be had most days, especially with that strong S/SSW groundswell that kicks in at the end of August and into September. But for a clean, fun session? The deck is stacked against us.

For the second week, the pattern doesn't really let up. The long-range stuff into the 8th of September keeps the swell coming, but that relentless wind keeps the quality poor. It’s a waiting game.

Stay patient, keep an eye on the wind charts, and maybe get the kitesurfing gear ready if that’s your thing, because this setup has the power for it even if it’s not great for a paddle.

Rusty.

Read more