Conto Springs Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here with a look at what’s shaping up for Conto Springs over the next couple of weeks. We’ve got a bit of a slow start, but once the ocean wakes up, there are some serious standouts on the horizon.

Right now, the first session on offer is Tuesday morning, September 1st, and it’s a tough one to get excited about. There’s a solid 8ft SW swell rolling in with a 15-second period, so there’s plenty of energy, but the wind is a cross-onshore from the WSW at 9 mph, making for a fairly choppy surface. The water temperature is 65°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. It’s not great, and the conditions are mediocre. The afternoon gets worse with stronger wind and chop.

Wednesday the 2nd sees the swell bump up to 12ft, and while the morning is still messy with a cross-shore wind, the afternoon turns a corner. The wind swings to a light cross-offshore from the SSW at 9 mph, cleaning things right up. The 13-second period keeps the waves punchy, and the afternoon becomes a very real option if you can wait it out. This is when we start to see some potential.

Now, let’s talk about the potential standout. If you’re an experienced surfer, mark your calendar for Tuesday morning, September 8th. We’ve got a 13ft SW swell with a very long 16-second period, and it’s glassy with a light cross-offshore breeze from the south at 6 mph. The energy is pumping, and the surf is described as "exceptional" for experts. This is big, powerful groundswell—over 8ft, so it’s for the experienced crew only. That long period will make for some beautiful, lined-up waves at this exposed reef, but it might break a bit straight at a beach, so Conto’s reef setup is the place to be.

The Friday prior, September 4th, is also a real highlight. The afternoon sees a 16ft SW swell with a 16-second period and gentle cross-shore wind. The energy is massive, and the surf looks clean. This is another one for the advanced surfers, but the conditions are near-perfect, with clear skies and light wind. If you can get out there, it’ll be a session to remember.

The stretch from September 5th to the 7th is mostly blown out or messy with strong winds, so we have a few days of dodgy conditions. The 6th has a few clean windows in the morning, but it’s big and strong.

Moving into the second week, the standout is that glassy Tuesday the 8th. After that, conditions start to drop off. We get another nice, clean window on Friday the 11th afternoon with a smaller 7ft swell and a cross-offshore breeze—smooth and clean, a good option for the experienced surfer. The 15th also looks promising with clean 7ft swell and light winds both morning and afternoon, described as excellent for experienced surfers.

Overall, the next 16 days have a couple of truly epic days for the experienced surfer, particularly the 4th and the 8th of September. The rest is a mix of onshore chop or big, windy, messy surf. Crowds at Conto can be around sometimes, so when it’s good, expect some company in the water. For beginners, the first week has some smaller windows on the 1st and 11th, but the swell is over 5ft, so it might be pushing it. Stay away from the 12ft+ days unless you know what you’re doing.

Keep an eye on the sky, and don’t sleep on that Tuesday the 8th.

- Rusty

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