Castles Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. The forecast is all about Castles, a reef setup that’s exposed to the south-west. We’ve got a real mixed bag of conditions coming our way over the next couple of weeks, so we’ll need to pick our moments.

Right now, we’re looking at a bit of a wait. The first session worth paddling out for is on the morning of Thursday, 28 August. Up until then, it’s mostly choppy, cross-onshore, or just too weak. The wait is a few days of poor to marginal surf, so don’t rush.

Thursday, 28 August – This is the standout. The morning brings a clean 5ft SW swell, with a period of 16 seconds and a solid combined energy of 1144 – that’s a moderate, quality groundswell. The wind is light and offshore from the NE, so the surface will be glassy. This is excellent for experienced surfers; the reef will handle the long-period swell well, giving nice, shaped waves. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, so you’ll be fine in a regular spring suit. Crowds are possible at Castles, but with such clean conditions, it might draw a few locals.

Friday, 29 August – The swell drops off to 3ft in the morning, with a moderate offshore wind from the ENE. Clean waves, but small. Combined energy of 309 – weak. Better for a longboard or a funboard session.

Saturday, 30 August – Sunday afternoon is a sneaky good one. The afternoon sees a clean 3ft SW swell, with a very long 19-second period. Combined energy of 787 – moderate. The wind is light and variable, nearly glassy. The waves will be setty and clean, but that long period means the reef will be the place to be, as it might straighten out on a beach break.

Monday, 31 August – Monday morning is a beauty. Clean 6ft SW swell, 17-second period, and combined energy of 1837 – strong. Light offshore winds from the NE. This is for experienced surfers; the size and power are real. Another top-tier session.

Tuesday, 1 September – A solid double-up. Both morning and afternoon offer clean 4ft SW swell with periods of 15 to 17 seconds. Light to gentle offshore winds. Combined energy in the moderate range (640 and 826). Consistent, clean, and fun.

After that, it gets messy. From Wednesday, 2 September through to the end of the first week, onshore winds from the WSW and poor conditions dominate. The swell is there, but the wind destroys it. That stretch is a write-off for paddle surfing.

Friday, 4 September – The afternoon brings a 6-7ft SW swell, but cross-shore winds and a combined energy of 2938 (strong) create a messy, choppy surface. Not ideal for a clean session, but if you’re a strong paddler, there’s power in the water.

Saturday, 5 September – Forget it. Near gale-force cross-onshore winds, 55 km/h, and a 6ft to 7ft swell. Blown out and dangerous. The setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

Sunday, 6 September – A slight improvement. Light cross-onshore winds, but the swell is still a solid 6ft to 7ft. Marginal, with a light wind ripple, but the power is there. Not a classic, but a possible session for the committed.

Monday, 7 September – A big swell event. 8ft SW swell, 16-second period, and combined energy of 3708 – very strong. Clean offshore winds from the north in the morning. This is expert-only territory. The reef will handle it, but you need to know what you’re doing. Tuesday, 8 September, and Wednesday, 9 September, are then blown out again by strong onshore winds.

The best bets are Thursday, 28 August morning, and Monday, 31 August morning. Those are the standouts. The second week has some size, but the wind is unreliable. Keep an eye on the 7 September morning for a big, clean swell, but it’s for experts only.

Rusty.

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