Cottons Point Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, lookin’ at what’s on offer for Cottons Point over the next couple of weeks. Alright, the honest truth: this stretch ain’t lookin’ like a classic run. You’re gonna have to dig deep for the clean ones and most of the time, the conditions are just gonna be marginal. There are no proper standouts here, just a few windows where things get a little less ordinary. The water temp’s sittin’ at 74°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year – a solid 7° above where it should be, so you can ditch the thick spring suit.

Right from the start on Wednesday the 22nd of July, it’s ordinary. We got a 3 ft swell from the SSW, but that 15 mph west wind is blowin’ cross-onshore and it’s choppy. Not worth paddlin’ out. That sets the tone for most of this week. Thursday the 23rd offers a tiny bit more hope with swell around 4 ft, but it’s still cross-onshore with that light breeze. The combined wave energy is moderate across these days, but the surface is just off.

Friday the 24th of July through the weekend keeps you guessin’. We get a little drop in swell – 2 ft to 3 ft – and the wind flips onshore at times, but the period jumps right up. On Friday mornin’ we’ve got a 24-second period swell and on Saturday mornin’ a 21-second period swell. That’s long period groundswell, and while it usually means better shaped waves, at a beach-and-reef setup like Cottons Point, it can be tricky – those long lines might just wall up and close out or run straight. Light winds those mornings but cross-onshore on Saturday afternoon. Hard to get excited.

The second week, from Tuesday the 28th of July, we get a few mornings with light onshore winds and swell around 4 ft to 4 ft from the SSW. The periods drop back to a more average 16 to 18 seconds. That Tuesday and Wednesday look the pick of the first week’s second half, with the wind shifting to onshore and light.

Now fast-forward to Friday the 31st of July afternoon – we finally see a bump in size. Swell pushes up to 6 ft from the S at 14 seconds. Wind’s light and onshore. That’s the first time the wave height breaks into a zone that’s not for beginners. Then Saturday the 1st of August morning, it’s 6 ft, S swell, 14 seconds, but the wind picks up to 20 mph from the WNW, cross-onshore and choppy. The afternoon’s even rougher. Not a good paddle.

By Sunday the 2nd of August, the size drops back to 5 ft to 5 ft with light onshore wind, but the energy’s fading. The rest of the run into the second week sees the swell shrink right back to 2 ft to 3 ft, and those cross-onshore winds keep the surface messy. On Thursday the 6th of August, we get another pulse: 6 ft to 6 ft S swell with 15-second period. Wind is cross-onshore at 15 mph, so again it’s a bit lumpy, but if you’re desperate, that afternoon might be the most surf you’ll see all fortnight.

Bottom line: no real standouts. The best of a messy bunch is the period from Tuesday the 28th to Wednesday the 29th of July mornings, with light onshore wind and some moderate swell, or the Friday 31st of July afternoon when it bumps up. But don’t expect perfection. This place is consistent, so it won’t stay this ordinary forever – forecasts can change.

Rusty.

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