Colas (Cokes) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Alright, we’ve got a solid run of surf shaping up for Colas (Cokes) over the next couple of weeks. It’s a reef break, so it handles swell well, and it’s exposed to the south-east, which is spot on for what’s coming. Let’s break it down.

The action kicks off on Wednesday the 2nd of September. The afternoon sees a clean 4.9ft swell from the SSW with a period of 14 seconds – that’s proper groundswell with good energy (1078). Water temp’s sitting at 84.9°, which is about normal for this time of year, so no worries there. A light 6 mph cross-off from the west is keeping it glassy. This is top-shelf stuff for experienced surfers only, as that 4.9ft on a reef demands respect. Crowds are likely, so get in early.

Thursday the 3rd keeps the quality high. Morning and afternoon both deliver 4.9ft swell from the S, period dropping slightly to 11 seconds, but still clean with that light westerly cross-off. Energy eases a bit (682 and 673) but still plenty of push. Friday the 4th stays in the same groove: 4.9ft S swell, 11 seconds, and a whisper-light 3 mph cross-off in the morning – glassy as it gets. Afternoon drops to 4.6ft from the SSE, still clean.

Saturday the 5th and Sunday the 6th see the swell ease a touch to 4.3–4.6ft from the SSE, period hanging at 10 seconds. Winds are light offshore or cross-off, so the faces will be clean. Energy is moderate (372–413). It’s still fun, well-shaped surf, but not quite the standouts of Wednesday and Thursday.

Monday the 7th and Tuesday the 8th keep the 3.6–3.9ft SSE swell rolling with 9–10 second periods. Winds pick up to a gentle 9 mph cross-off. The energy bumps up a bit (423 on Monday morning) but Tuesday afternoon’s got a risk of thunderstorms, and the period drops, so it’s getting a bit marginal.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting again. From Wednesday the 9th through to Saturday the 12th, we see a shift. Swell direction swings to SSW with some very long period pulses – 15 to 19 seconds. That’s proper groundswell, and the combined energy goes through the roof (1109 up to 1686). The catch? Winds ramp up to a moderate 12–16 mph cross-off from the west-northwest, which will chop things up. This is powerful, heavy swell – over 4.9ft and up to 4.3ft – but the wind will make it a challenge. For experts only, and even then, it’s more of a mission than a cruise. The energy is massive, but the quality takes a hit from the breeze.

That big swell pulse fades through Sunday the 13th and Monday the 14th, with size dropping to 2.0–3.6ft and period still long (14–18 seconds) but the wind stays strong at 16 mph. Energy drops to the 420–633 range. It’s marginal, and by Tuesday the 15th through to Thursday the 17th of September, it’s pretty much cooked. Swell down to 2.0–3.3ft, period shortening, and the wind is onshore or strong cross-off. Combined energy is weak, under 200 by the end. Not worth paddling out.

If I’m picking the standouts, Wednesday the 2nd and Thursday the 3rd are your best bets – good size, long period, clean glass with light winds, and solid energy. The long-period groundswell will make the reef line up beautifully. That’s where you want to be. The second week has some massive energy, but the wind spoils it. A kite surfer might love that wind and swell combo, but for a paddle surfer, it’s a tough ask.

Stay safe out there.

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