Conto Springs Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty, coming at you live from the coast. We’ve got a solid 16-day window to look at, and let me tell you, it’s a proper rollercoaster. The ocean is gonna be pumping, but we gotta pick our moments. The first real clean window hits on Tuesday the 18th, so don’t get too excited about the early days. There’s a big gap of messy, blown-out conditions before we get to the good stuff.

Let’s start with our spot, Conto Springs. This reef break is a gem, very consistent and picks up a heap of swell. It's exposed to the WSW, which is key. Right now the water is sitting at 67°, which is a pretty wild 4° warmer than normal for this time of year. That’s a major anomaly; it feels like you’re surfing in a bathtub.

We’ve got a lumpy, poor run from Saturday the 15th all the way through until Monday the 17th. Strong winds and rain are going to trash it. Saturday morning sees a 8ft WSW swell, but it’s getting hammered by a 12 mph north-easterly, making it a total write-off. Monday is a write-off too; a 15ft Westerly swell but with a 31 mph near gale, honestly, you’d be mad to paddle out.

The turnaround starts on Tuesday the 18th of August. This is the standout. We’ve got a solid 15ft WSW swell, but the key is the wind. It’s a gentle 9 mph south-westerly, which is a pure cross-shore. The combined energy is a massive 11,656, so there's serious power in the water. The period is 16 seconds, which is a proper long-period groundswell, meaning those waves will have serious shape and push. It might be a bit much for beginners at that size, but for any intermediate or above surfer, this is going to be an epic session at Conto Springs. Expect a crowd, because this place is popular for good reason.

Wednesday the 19th is a washout again with a 34 mph westerly. But then Thursday the 20th is another monster. We’re seeing a 20ft WSW swell with a 17-second period. That’s a huge amount of water moving. The energy reading is 19,363 – it's dangerously strong. The wind is a 19 mph westerly, cross-onshore and lumpy. Honestly, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. For a surfer, it’s just too big and gnarly for this break unless you are a top-tier expert.

After that, things settle down into a nice pulse from Saturday the 22nd into the middle of the next week. Saturday the 22nd of August is your second-best call. It’s a 15ft SW swell, still a long 15-second period, but the wind drops to a light 6 mph south-westerly, a light cross-shore. That's about as clean as it gets. The energy is still very strong at 8,874. This will be a much more manageable, incredible day of surfing.

By Sunday the 23rd, the wind starts to turn onshore again and the swell drops. From Monday the 24th onwards, it’s back to a grim pattern of poor conditions and strong northerly winds. A few smaller, choppy swells through the end of the month, but nothing to get out of bed for.

So to sum it up: Tuesday the 18th is your first absolute banger, a clean, powerful groundswell. Saturday the 22nd is the second pick of the run, with lighter winds and slightly smaller but still pumping surf. Get on it.

Rusty.

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