Cottons Point Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. So, looking at the next couple weeks at Cottons Point, it starts off real slow, but there’s a solid pulse of swell building for the weekend that’ll get the blood pumping, especially for the more experienced crew. The water is running way warmer than usual for early spring, about 77°, which is a full 9° above the norm, so you might want to ditch the thick wetsuit.

The first few days, Tuesday the 1st through to Friday the 4th, are pretty lackluster. Swell is tiny, barely scraping 2ft to 3ft, and it’s coming from the SSW with a solid 13-18 second period on the longer side, but the wind is cross-onshore and messy. Wave energy is weak to moderate (293-846), and the surf is poor to marginal at best. You’d be fighting chop for barely any ride.

Saturday the 5th picks up a touch—still only 4ft from the south, 14-second period, but the wind lightens up to a cross-onshore breeze. The energy jumps into triple digits (1186-1250), but it’s still just marginal. Not worth getting too excited.

Now here’s the standout: Sunday morning the 6th of September. The swell kicks to 7ft out of the south at 14 seconds, and the wind swings offshore from the NNE at just 6 mph. That’s clean conditions, folks. Wave energy is pumping at 1632 (moderate to strong). This is aimed right at Cottons Point’s optimum SW direction, and it’s a reef and point setup that loves that long-period groundswell. This is expert territory—over 5ft, so not for beginners—and the offshore breeze will smooth out the faces. The morning session is the one to chase. Crowds can be a thing here sometimes, so get in early.

Sunday afternoon and Monday the 7th see the swell push to 7ft and 8ft respectively, but the wind turns cross-onshore or cross-shore, gusting 19 mph on Monday, which trashes the quality. Energy is huge (1757-2907), but it’s lumpy and chunky. Only for experts, and likely more interesting for kite surfing than paddling.

After that, it drops off fast. Tuesday the 8th through to Wednesday the 16th sees the swell dwindle from 6ft down to a measly 1ft. The wind stays mostly cross-onshore or onshore, and while periods occasionally reach 16 seconds, the energy tanks to below 400 for most sessions. It’s a long boring stretch of marginal to poor surf. The best of this second week is maybe Thursday the 10th morning with 3ft from the SW, 17-second period, and light onshore wind, but it’s still a marginal call with questionable tide.

All in all, the one to pencil in is Sunday morning the 6th. That’s your clean, punchy window. The rest is either too small or too messy. Keep the faith, Rusty.

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