Castles Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Castles. This is a reef setup that’s exposed to the swell, and it’s consistent, so it’s got potential. But this 16-day window is a real mixed bag, with a big chunk of grotty weather and messy surf to work through before we get to the good stuff. The water temp is sitting at 60°, which is about average for this time of year, so nothing unusual there.

The forecast starts off a bit flat, but by Saturday morning, August 8th, we’ve got a 5 ft SW swell rolling in with a long 16-second period. That’s some proper groundswell energy. The wind is a light cross-off from the NNW, keeping things clean. The combined energy is 1074 (moderate), so it’s got some push. It’s a beginner-friendly break, but with that long period, the sets will be clean and well-shaped. It’s a solid start, but the afternoon gets blown out with a cross-shore wind, so get in early.

Then things go south. Sunday, August 9th, is a write-off. We’re looking at 10 ft of slop with onshore winds screaming at 34–37 mph, and the combined energy jumps to 1324 and 2337, but it’s just a mess. This continues through Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday—big swells, but the wind is onshore or cross-on, making it unsurfable. The period is long, but when the wind is howling, it doesn’t matter. Thursday, August 13th, is still marginal with onshore winds and 8 ft–7 ft swell.

Now, here’s the standout. Friday morning, August 14th is the best on offer. The wind drops to dead calm—glassy—and the swell is a solid 7 ft from the SW with a 17-second period. The combined energy is 2386 (strong), and the conditions are described as excellent for experienced surfers, which is spot on. For a reef break, this is prime. The long period will make for some powerful, clean lines. The afternoon gets a bit of a cross-shore breeze, but the morning window is gold.

Saturday morning, August 15th, is also very good. You’ve got a 6 ft SW swell, 16-second period, and a gentle offshore breeze from the east. The combined energy is 1392 (moderate), and it’s clean. This is a strong runner-up, but that Friday morning is the real highlight.

After that, things settle down. Sunday, August 16th, through to Tuesday, August 19th, sees smaller swells, dropping to 3 ft–5 ft, but the wind stays favourable, mostly offshore or cross-off. The combined energy is weaker, between 461 and 1415, so it’s small but clean. Fun for a log or a fish, but not the main event.

We get another spike late in the run. Thursday, August 20th, the swell builds back to 6 ft–7 ft from the SW, with a 15–16 second period and a cross-off wind. The combined energy is 1996–2465 (strong), and conditions are clean. Then Friday, August 21st, is another cracker: 6 ft–5 ft SW swell, 16-second period, and a light offshore wind. The morning is rated excellent for experienced surfers, and the afternoon is glassy. This is a solid second standout, but it’s further out, so less certain.

The last few days into August 23rd get messy again with onshore winds, so the window is really the two Friday mornings and that Saturday morning. For a reef break like Castles, the long-period SW groundswell is perfect, and that glassy Friday morning on August 14th is the absolute pick of the bunch.

Rusty

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