Conto Springs Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. We’ve got a solid run of surf coming up at Conto Springs, but you’ll need to pick your windows carefully because this is a reef setup that’s very consistent and exposed to the swell. The water is sitting at 68°F, which is *much warmer than normal* for this time of year – a solid 5°F above average, so you can leave the thick wetsuit at home.

The whole pattern kicks off Friday afternoon, 7 August, but don’t get excited just yet. There’s a 13ft WSW swell rolling in with a 15-second period, but the wind is howling out of the west at 25 mph, cross-on and messy. That’s a no-go – the combined energy is still strong (7279), but the conditions are pure rubbish.

Saturday, 8 August, is where it gets interesting. The swell jumps to 21ft from the SW for the morning, with a 15-second period, and the wind shifts to a cross-off SSW breeze at 28 mph. The wave energy is huge (18819), and despite the strong breeze, the forecast says it’s clean. But here’s the catch: at 21ft, this is *expert-only* territory. The same holds for Saturday afternoon – 23ft SW swell, 16-second period, cross-off wind, and the energy is even bigger (24769). If you’re not a pro, stay on the beach and watch.

Sunday morning, 9 August, backs off a bit to 15ft SW swell, still a long 16-second period, but the wind turns cross-shore from the WSW at 16 mph. The energy is still solid (12698), but the forecast says it’s marginal – questionable tide and a moderate cross-chop. Sunday afternoon gets worse: cross-onshore wind from the W at 19 mph, lumpy, and the energy drops to 9014. Not worth it.

Monday, 10 August, is a write-off. The swell is 18ft to 20ft SW, but the wind is a near gale – 31 to 34 mph cross-shore, creating crossing waves and total chaos. The energy is high (8685 to 14335), but you’d be mad to paddle out.

Tuesday, 11 August, brings the biggest swell of the run: 25ft SW in the morning, 17-second period, and the energy is massive (64342). The wind is fresh cross-shore from the SW at 22 mph, and the forecast says it’s clean, but again, 25ft is *only for experts*. Tuesday afternoon is similar with 21ft SW, 16-second period, and 44484 energy. If you’re an experienced charger, these are the standout sessions – just be aware that a 17-second period groundswell like that can break a bit straight on a reef, so you’ll want to be picky about your takeoff spot.

From Wednesday, 12 August, through to Saturday, 15 August, the swell drops to 10ft to 15ft, but the wind is cross-on (WSW or W) at 9 to 16 mph, with moderate to fresh breezes. The energy ranges from 3510 to 10332, and the forecast is consistently marginal – choppy, lumpy, and not worth the drive. There’s a period of about three days here where the surf is just poor to marginal.

Sunday, 16 August, shows a glimmer: the morning has a 12ft WSW swell, 14-second period, with a light breeze from the NW (onshore) and the energy is 6958. The forecast says marginal, but it’s the best of a bad stretch. The wind is light, so it could be okay at lower tide. Afternoon is 10ft and cross-on, not great.

The real second-week hope comes on Monday, 17 August. The morning jumps to 15ft WSW swell, with a very long 17-second period, and a light cross-on breeze from the N at 6 mph. The energy is 10500, and the forecast is a 7/10 marginal – that’s the best score in the run. The wind is light, so the cross-on won’t ruin it, and that 17-second period groundswell will have serious push. It’s not a standout compared to the Tuesday before, but it’s the pick of the lighter days. Afternoon drops to 13ft, same period, but the wind swings to onshore NNW at 12 mph.

After that, it falls apart. Tuesday, 18 August, through to Saturday, 22 August, the wind is strong to near gale from the NW or WNW, cross-on or onshore, and the swell is 10ft to 15ft but blown out. The energy drops to 645 by the end. The last few days are a complete loss – windy, messy, and not worth a look.

So, for the standout: if you’re an expert, do not miss Saturday, 8 August, and Tuesday, 11 August. Those are the big, clean, high-energy days. For everyone else, Monday, 17 August, is your best bet – it’s the most manageable swell with light wind, but it’s still a long-period groundswell that will be better handled by an experienced intermediate.

Rusty.

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