Cottons Point Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here again. Let’s break it down for Cottons Point.

The opening days of the 16-day window are a bit of a tease. Friday morning (September 4th) has some waist-high, 3ft swell from the SSW, but the conditions are marginal and the first morning already has a "questionable" feel to it. The combined energy reading of 680 (moderate) is there, but the wind is only light and onshore, and the water is much warmer than normal at 75°F—a massive 7°F anomaly for this time of year, which is very unusual.

The real standout, the one that’s got my heart pumping, is Sunday morning (September 6th). The swell jumps to 6ft from the S, with a 14-second period, giving it a solid groundswell feel. The combined energy hits 1332 (strong), and the wind is a light cross-offshore breeze from the NNE. That’s the cleanest slot in the entire window, and the commentary says conditions are excellent for experienced surfers. This is the best on offer.

Cottons Point is a reef and point setup, so that long-period, S swell will wrap in nicely. Keep in mind the swell size is 6ft, which is getting a bit big for beginners, but it’s a prime mark for intermediates and up. The optimum swell direction is from the SW, and while this is S, it’s close enough to get the job done. Crowds are possible here sometimes, so don’t expect solitude.

After Sunday, the week gets messy. Monday (September 7th) still has some size, 7ft to 7ft, but the wind turns cross-onshore and swings to a moderate breeze (20 km/h), making it choppy. Tuesday (September 8th) drops a touch in size to 6ft, but the wind is still cross-onshore and light, so you’ll get some ripples on the surface. By Wednesday and Thursday (September 9th and 10th), the swell drops below 4ft and the energy fades.

From Friday (September 11th) onwards, we hit a rough patch. The swell drops to 3ft and below, and the combined energy readings fall into the two-digit ranges (weak to moderate). The wind is often cross-onshore and moderate, making for poor conditions. This flat spell lasts through the second week, with only a few marginal mornings showing 2ft to 3ft swells. The energy stays low, well under 600, and the period is long but the swell is too small to do much.

The very end of the window, on Saturday (September 19th), shows a slight tick up to 3ft from the SW with an 18-second period, and the combined energy is 602. It’s marginal, but a glimmer of hope.

So, the call is simple: if you want to paddle out, aim for Sunday morning (September 6th). That’s the cleanest, most powerful window. The rest of the run is a mixed bag of marginal conditions and small, choppy surf. The blank run from the middle of the second week is pretty normal for an area that needs a solid swell to light up.

Rusty.

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