Cudmirrah Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here again. Let's talk about Cudmirrah Reef in feet and Fahrenheit. It’s a rough patch, no two ways about it. The first week and a half is mostly a waste of time, but there’s one morning that actually looks like it might deliver.

The first surfable morning is Thursday, August 6th. We’ve got a clean 3ft S swell, but the period is a short 8 seconds, so it’s weak and a bit crumbly. The combined energy is only 112 (weak). Water temp is 64°, which is about normal for this time of year. A light NW offshore wind keeps it clean, but it’s very ordinary. No standout here.

Friday the 7th is glassy in the morning with a WSW wind, but the swell is tiny – just 1ft from the SSE. Energy is down to 83. It’s flat.

Saturday the 8th is similar: 1ft and clean, but energy is 75. Nothing doing.

Sunday the 9th shows a slight bump in energy to 123 (moderate) with a 3ft ENE swell, clean with a cross-off NNE wind. Still small. Monday the 10th has a bit more size at 4ft, energy at 210, but the wind is a fresh 35 km/h from the W, so it’s clean but the conditions are rated poor. A bit of a messy one.

From Tuesday the 11th through Thursday the 13th, the wind is a constant problem. Thursday afternoon the 13th actually sees a big spike to 10ft S swell, with massive energy at 1204. But it’s a cross-onshore S wind, making it choppy, and the period is short. That’s kite-surfing territory, not for the paddle crew.

Now, here’s the real highlight. Friday morning, August 14th. The swell drops to a solid 7ft from the S, with a period of 9 seconds and combined energy of 682 (moderate to strong). The wind is a light WNW cross-off, just 5 km/h, so it’s clean. The forecast says “expect very good surf conditions.” This is the best of the whole 16 days. For a reef break, a 7ft S swell with offshore wind will produce some serious, well-shaped waves. It’s a bit big for beginners, so it’s for the experienced crew. Crowds are “sometimes,” so you might have a few others out, but it’s worth it.

Saturday the 15th the swell drops to 5ft with a moderate breeze, and it’s marginal. Sunday the 16th is a no-go with strong cross-shore winds. The rest of the second week is mostly small and average, with a few clean but tiny sessions on the 20th and 21st of August. The 19th of August morning is glassy with a 2ft, 13-second groundswell, but it’s just too small.

Bottom line: the first week is a bust. Your one real shot is that Friday morning the 14th for a clean, solid session at Cudmirrah Reef. It’s a short window, but it’s the only one worth chasing. Keep an eye on it.

Rusty.

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