Conto Springs Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Righto, let’s get into it. Just a heads up, the only spot we’ve got on the radar for the next 16 days is Conto Springs. It’s a reef break that’s very consistent, so it’s not like we’re starved for waves, but the quality is gonna be a real mixed bag.

Alright, so we kick off on Thursday morning, August 6th, but don’t get too excited. Swell is a solid 13 ft from the WSW with a super long 16-second period, pushing a massive 8592 (weak to moderate) energy. But the wind is a howling 22 mph from the NW, and it’s onshore. That’s just poor, messy conditions. The afternoon stays big, 15 ft, but the wind shifts to a cross-on from the W at 22 mph. The file says the swell is too big for this break, so it’s a no-go.

Friday, August 7th, is a write-off. Still 13 ft to 15 ft of swell, but the wind is strong and cross-on, making it lumpy and messy. Saturday, August 8th, is where things get dangerous. We’re looking at a massive 21 ft to 23 ft swell from the SW with a 16-17 second period – that’s a ton of energy (21978 to 28778). The wind is cross-shore. The file says the swell is too big for this break. This is for experts only, and even then, it’s pushing the limits. The afternoon does have a “clean” note, but 23 ft is just massive.

Sunday, August 9th, through to Thursday, August 13th, is a lot of the same story. Swell sizes stay big, between 13 ft and 21 ft. The wind is generally cross-on or cross-shore, with a lot of “poor surf conditions” and “messy” notes. There are a couple of afternoons, like Tuesday, August 11th, and again on the 18th, where we get a “clean” cross-off wind, but the swell is still big (16 ft to 20 ft) and the file calls it “marginal” or “too big.” It’s frustrating.

The real standout, and the only time I’d get properly excited, happens on Thursday, August 13th. The morning shows a 18 ft swell from the SW with a very long 19-second period, pushing a massive 19787 energy. The wind is a gentle 9 mph from the W, but it’s still cross-on. The file says the swell is predicted to be too big for this break, so it’s a high-risk, high-reward situation. The afternoon is similar, 16 ft at 18 seconds. If you’re a seasoned charger and the tide lines up, this could be the session of the fortnight, but you’ve got to treat it with respect.

After that, the size slowly drops. We get a bit of a lull around August 15th and 16th with swell around 8 ft to 8 ft, but the wind is still cross-on, and the surf is poor to marginal. The second week looks more promising for size, but the wind remains a problem. On Monday, August 17th, the swell jumps back to 18 ft from the WSW with a 17-second period, but the wind is onshore or cross-on at 19-22 mph. The file again says it’s too big.

The only real chance for a clean, manageable wave is on the afternoon of Tuesday, August 18th. The swell drops to 15 ft from the SW, and the wind goes cross-off from the SW at 19 mph. The file says “clean” and gives it a decent score. It’s still a 15 ft reef break, so it’s not for beginners, but it’s the best combo of size and clean conditions we see in the whole outlook.

The last few days drop off, with swell around 8 ft to 10 ft and cross-on winds, just poor surf. We’ve got a couple of days with no real recommendations at the end.

So, to sum it up: this is a heavy period for Conto Springs. The one true standout for the big dogs is Thursday, August 13th, with that massive, long-period swell. For a cleaner session, Tuesday, August 18th afternoon is your best bet. For everyone else, it’s a waiting game, as the majority of the time the swell is either too big or the wind is ruining it.

Stay safe out there.

Rusty

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