Conto Springs Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright mate, Rusty here. Let's get into it.

The next couple of weeks are a real mixed bag for us. There’s plenty of swell on the charts, but the wind is going to be the deciding factor on whether we get good waves or a blown-out mess. The opening weekend looks promising with some serious size, but we’ll have to pick our windows carefully, especially if you’re not a seasoned pro.

Saturday morning (August 29) kicks things off with a solid 8.2ft SW swell and light offshore winds out of the ESE, which has the reef at Conto Springs looking super clean. The energy is pumping with a combined reading of 5830. The period is long, 19 seconds, which is proper groundswell, so expect some real power behind those sets. It’s got “expert” written all over it. The conditions are there, but the tide could be a bit touchy, so it might be a bit of a puzzle to get it right.

Saturday afternoon is where the standout of the first few days sits. The swell bumps up to 9.8ft, still from the SW, and the wind swings offshore from the ESE at 15 km/h. That’s a recipe for some absolutely epic, clean walls. The energy is massive at 5491. The wave comment says it all – exceptional conditions for experts. This is the pick of the opening weekend for sure. If you can paddle out there, you’ll be grinning for a week.

Sunday the swell jumps a bit, hitting 11.5ft on the morning, but the wind swings around to the north, making it criss-cross and a bit messy. The afternoon cleans up with the swell pulling back to 9.8ft, but it’s onshore from the NW and the quality drops off hard.

Monday (August 31) we’re looking at a write-off. Onshore winds howling at 30-35 km/h and the forecast is just poor. This is a good day to do something else.

Tuesday through Thursday is a bit of a lull in terms of quality, with the swell hanging around 8.2-9.8ft but the winds are all over the place and the energy starts to fade. The period drops, and the consistency just isn't there. There’s a short window on Thursday morning with a light cross-shore breeze, but nothing to get too excited about. The west wind on Wednesday at 25-30 km/h will wreck it.

The following weekend is where this forecast gets interesting again. Saturday, September 5 has a building SW swell at 11.5ft with a clean cross-offshore S breeze, and even though the energy reading is strong at 5149, the lighter period on Sunday is a bit of a concern. Sunday, September 6 is the real standout of this entire window. The afternoon session looks absolutely pumping: 11.5ft from the WSW, but with a clean offshore SSE wind at 20 km/h. The energy figure jumps to a massive 7688, and the comment is "exceptional surf conditions for expert surfers". This will be one for the memory bank, but like all these big swells, it’s for experienced guns only.

The beginning of the following week, September 7-8, brings a welcome drop in size, down to the 7.5-8.2ft range, and a return to clean, offshore winds and glassy conditions. The period stays long, so we’ll get some proper pushing waves without the intimidation factor. This is a solid window for the more experienced surfers to really rip. Then Thursday of that week, September 10, shows another big pulse of energy on the chart, with a 13.1ft SW swell and a huge energy reading of 10092. However, the wind is light and criss-cross, and the tide looks suspect. It’s tantalizingly close, but early forecasts have it a bit lumpy.

The long-range stuff for the second week into mid-September brings more big surf, but the winds look less favorable, with onshores and strong breezes likely spoiling the party at Conto Springs. The size stays up there, but you’ll want to be watching the forecasts closely for any wind shifts.

So there you have it. If you’re chargin', Saturday afternoon and September 6 afternoon are your windows to shine. If you want a bit more manageable, keep an eye on that September 7-8 window for some clean, powerful waves without the 13-foot brute force.

Remember, this is a reef, and it’s very consistent, so when it’s on, it’s on. But when it’s big and onshore, it gets real heavy. Don't be a hero if you're not ready.

Stay salty.

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