Cottons Point Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty, and I’ve been watchin’ the charts for Cottons Point. Let’s be straight with each other – the next couple of weeks ain’t gonna have us shoutin’ from the rooftop. There’s a long, flat spell ahead, but there’s a glimmer of something better if you’re patient.

The first proper surf worth paddlin’ out for is a few days away. Thursday morning, 20th August, you’re lookin’ at a small 3ft swell from the SSW, with a period of 14 seconds. The wind is light and blowin’ onshore, so it’s not gonna be a classic, but it’s the first sign of life. The combined energy of all swells here is 323, which is weak, and the water is a touch warmer than normal at 71°. For a reef and point break like Cottons Point, that longer period is a good sign – it’ll bring some shape, but the onshore breeze will mess with the face. The crowds are possible here, as it’s a spot that gets attention sometimes.

Friday and Saturday stay small, with swells droppin’ to 2ft and 2ft, and the wind stays cross-on. Not much to get excited about. Sunday the 23rd has a real long-period groundswell coming through at 19 seconds, but the swell height is only 2ft – it’s a tease. The combined energy is 317, still weak. You’d need a lot of luck and a very forgiving tide.

Then comes a proper dry spell. From Monday 24th through to Tuesday morning, 1st September, it’s mostly poor conditions with cross-on winds and weak swell. The combined energy dips into the 200s and 300s – weak, weak, weak. The wind is often a gentle breeze, making things choppy. I’m talkin’ a solid week of nothin’ worth paddlin’ for.

Now, here’s the one that might get your heart beatin’ a little faster. Wednesday morning, 26th August, the swell picks up to 4ft from the S, with a period of 13 seconds. The combined energy jumps to 703 – that’s moderate wave energy, a real step up. The wind is light and onshore again, but the size is there. It’s a marginal call, but if you’re keen, it’s the best on offer in the whole outlook. The swell direction is from the S, which is off from the optimum SW direction for this spot, but the energy is enough to make it work. Not for beginners though – 4ft is pushin’ that limit.

The rest of the run into early September is a wash. A few 2ft to 3ft days with cross-on winds, some weak short-period W swells on the 3rd and 4th of September with periods of just 8 seconds. That’s short-period junk, not worth the drive. The combined energy on the 4th of September morning is 566, which is moderate, but with a long period of 18 seconds and offshore wind, it might look clean from the beach, but the size is only 3ft. It’s a long shot.

So, the standout? Without a doubt, the morning of Wednesday, 26th August. It’s the biggest swell of the run, with moderate energy, and though the wind is onshore, it’s light. The rest is a waiting game. The blank run from the 24th to the 30th is a real test of patience. But forecasts can change, and spots like this with consistent exposure tend to bounce back.

Rusty.

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