Coxos Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the table for this stretch of coast.

Right off the bat, we’re looking at a pretty grim run for the first week. The water temp is sitting at 68°, which is about 2° cooler than usual for this time of year—nothing wild, just a touch on the fresh side. But the surf? Honestly, it’s a struggle. From Wednesday the 19th all the way through to the end of August, conditions are getting hammered by rough onshore winds and lumpy, choppy seas. Most days are scoring a big fat zero, and the few that even get a mention are tagged as marginal at best. The swell energy is mostly weak to moderate, with values like 101 to 1036 (combined energy of all swells directed here), but the wind is just ruining it. We’re talking fresh cross-onshore winds, lumpy surf, and at times, waves that are steep and poorly shaped. There’s a brief glimmer on Friday the 21st with a 7 ft NNW swell and a period of 11 seconds, but that 22 mph wind from the north makes it a complete mess—only for the truly hardcore, and even then, it’s a kite surfer’s dream more than a paddle surfer’s.

The first real standout that’s worth getting excited about? That’s Saturday the 22nd of August. Morning session at Coxos (reef). We’ve got a 6 ft swell from the NNW, period of 10 seconds, and a light 9 mph NW breeze. It’s onshore, but it’s light, so it’ll be okay. The combined energy (554) is moderate—enough to get a few decent ones. The tide might be a bit questionable, but it’s the cleanest we’ve seen in days. This is your best shot for the first week, and it’s only a 2 out of 10 on the score—so set expectations low.

Then we hit a dry spell. From Sunday the 23rd right through to the end of the month, it’s a lot of poor conditions, cross-onshore winds, and choppy, lumpy surf. The swell energy picks up a bit mid-week, like on Thursday the 27th afternoon with a 6 ft NW swell, period 10 seconds, and a combined energy of 1126 (strong), but once again, the wind is moderate onshore. It’s marginal, but not great.

Into the second week, things don’t improve much. The wind remains a persistent problem. The best bet in the long range looks like Thursday the 3rd of September morning. We’ve got a 6 ft swell from the NNW, period 10 seconds, moderate onshore wind from the north at 12 mph, and the combined energy (588) is moderate. The score is a 1 out of 10, so it’s a marginal day, but if you’re desperate, you might get a few. It’s the only real highlight in the whole second week, and it’s not a strong one.

Overall, this is a tough forecast. The waves are there—some decent NW swells—but the wind is just relentless. The reef at Coxos is your best bet, but it’s going to be a battle. If you’re a kite surfer, you’ll have a field day. For the rest of us, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

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