Castles Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, and I’ve got a look at what’s coming up for Castles. It’s a consistent reef break, so it takes a bit of swell to get it going, and the setup is best when the swell is from the WSW. The water temp is sitting at 61°, which is pretty much spot on average for this time of year—nothing weird going on there.

The first surf on offer is Monday the 20th, but honestly, it’s a bit of a slow start. The swell is around 1ft from the SW, with a nice long period of 15 seconds, so there’s some real groundswell energy in the water (623). The wind is a light cross-shore, so it’s rideable, but it’s only a marginal call. Not a standout, just something to get wet.

Tuesday the 21st starts off okay with a clean morning session—1ft SW swell, 13-second period, and a light cross-offshore wind. The wave energy is moderate (433). The afternoon turns into a cross-on mess, though, so aim for the early.

Wednesday the 22nd is a write-off. The wind is blowing 12 to 15 mph from the SW and SSW, making the ocean choppy and bumpy. The swell is 1ft to 1ft, but it’s a noisy, sloppy cross-on scene. Forget it.

Thursday the 23rd gets a bit of size, with 8ft of SSW swell in the morning, but the wind is a strong cross-shore at 15 mph. The combined energy jumps to 4236, which is strong, but the conditions are marginal. The afternoon is a cross-on chop with 7ft swell. Not the day for it.

Now, here’s the real standout. Friday the 24th morning is the best call of the whole run. The swell is 6ft from the SW with a 15-second period, giving it heaps of grunt (1229), and the wind is a light, cross-offshore breeze from the ESE at just 3 mph. It’s clean, glassy, and the wave comment says it’s excellent for experienced surfers. That’s the one to aim for. The afternoon is still decent but a bit choppier.

Saturday the 25th and Sunday the 26th are pretty average. The swell drops to 4ft and then 4ft, and the wind is cross-on or onshore, so it’s a bit of a grovel. Not much to get excited about.

Monday the 27th offers a surprise: a glassy afternoon session with a 6ft WSW swell but a short period of just 8 seconds. The energy is moderate (463), and it’s clean, but that short period means the waves will be a bit weaker and more crumbly. Still, it’s a fun option if you’re keen.

Tuesday the 28th sees a big jump in size—10ft of SW swell with a 17-second period in the afternoon, and the energy is massive (7266). But the wind is a strong cross-on from the WNW at 15 mph, and the conditions are poor. That’s a dangerous, blown-out mess. Only for the brave.

The rest of the week into early August is a bit of a drought. The swell sticks around 2ft to 5ft, but the wind is mostly onshore, cross-on, or too strong. The standout is Thursday the 30th, with a clean morning of 5ft SW swell and a light cross-offshore wind, and a glassy afternoon with 5ft swell. The energy is solid (846 and 680), and the wave conditions are very good. That’s your second best bet.

After that, it’s a long gap of poor surf. From Friday the 31st through to Tuesday the 4th of August, the wind is howling—18 to 31 mph at times—and the swell is small and messy. Nothing worth paddling out for.

So, to wrap it up: the absolute best is Friday the 24th morning, with clean, powerful groundswell from the SW. Second best is Thursday the 30th, with light winds and good waves. The rest is a mixed bag, so pick your windows.

Rusty.

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