Conto Springs Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s talk about Conto Springs. We’ve got a massive run of solid, powerful swell coming in from the WSW, and with this setup, the reef is going to be working hard. The water’s sitting at 66°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year – you’ll notice it, but it’s not a big surprise.

The first real action kicks off on Wednesday the 26th of August. It’s a big, pulsing 16ft swell from the WSW with a very long 18-second period, packing some serious energy (14166). The wind is cross-off from the SSW, so it’ll be a bit textured but still rideable. This is a lot of water moving, and even for an exposed reef, that’s getting up there for the crew who aren’t super confident. It’s going to be a big, clean day for the experienced crowd, but beginners should give it a wide berth.

Thursday the 27th sees the swell drop just a touch to 13ft from the SW, but the period is still a solid 15 seconds. The big news here is the wind: a fresh offshore from the SSE at 19 mph. That’s going to groom the face beautifully. It’s still a heavy wave, but with the offshore combing it out, this is a standout windows for good surfers. The reef will be handling that long-period swell better than a beach break, so expect clean, racy lines. The afternoon holds with an 12ft swell and a fresh offshore, still excellent.

Friday the 28th is a good step down. We’re into 7ft from the SW with a 12-second period and a moderate offshore from the SE. The energy is much more manageable (1214), and the wind is clean. This is a fantastic day for the intermediate crew to get in on the action. The reef will be offering up nice, shapely waves without the terrifying power of the earlier days.

Saturday the 29th afternoon is when it really starts to get interesting again. The swell bumps back up to 10ft from the SW with a very long 18-second period (5308). The wind swings to a gentle easterly breeze, making it cross-off and super clean. For a reef that loves a long-period groundswell, this is a treat. It’s a big, powerful wave, so not for the faint of heart, but the quality will be top-shelf.

We then hit a bit of a rough patch. Sunday the 30th through to Tuesday the 1st of September sees the wind turning onshore and cross-onshore from the north and west, making things lumpy and choppy. The swell is still there, 8ft to 10ft, but the quality drops right off. You’d be fighting the wind more than the wave. Wednesday the 2nd is similar, with a fresh cross-onshore and a moderate cross-shore making for messy conditions.

Things start to turn again on Thursday the 3rd of September. The swell bumps back up to 13ft from the SW with a long 15-second period (6468), and the wind eases to a light cross-onshore from the WNW. It’ll have a few ripples, but the power is back. Friday the 4th of September is a standout in the second week. The swell holds at 13ft from the SW, but the wind goes cross-off from the S at 19 mph. That’s a big, clean, powerful wave. The energy is huge again (14080). This is for experts only.

After that, we settle into a more moderate run over the weekend of the 5th and 6th of September. Swell drops to 7ft to 8ft, with light cross-shore winds. It’s okay, but nothing that’ll get the heart racing.

Now, for the big one. Monday the 7th of September into Thursday the 10th of September, the forecast is throwing up some absolute monsters. We’re talking 16ft to 25ft swell from the SW with periods up to 19 seconds. When it hits 23ft on Monday morning with a 19-second period (33803 energy), and a clean cross-off wind from the S, that is a once-a-year kind of day for the most committed big-wave chargers. The reef will be handling it, but you need to know what you’re doing. Thursday the 10th of September morning sees a 16ft swell and a glassy wind from the ENE. It’s still way too big for most, but if you’re in the lineup, it’ll be a perfect, glassy bomb.

The biggest call for the whole run is the Monday and Tuesday of the 7th and 8th of September, and then the Thursday the 10th. The swell is huge, the energy is very strong, and the tide will be a factor. Not the place for a learner, but for the core crew, it’s the best on offer. The gaps in quality are short-lived – we’re looking at a few days at the end of August and start of September that are messy, but the ocean is pumping enough that it’s worth waiting for the clean windows.

Rusty.

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