Deadman's Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for Deadman's.

First off, I gotta be straight with you – this stretch of reef is putting on an inconsistent show. We’re looking at a run of mostly marginal surf with a couple of glimmers. The water temp is 59°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so no shocks there.

Alright, the week starts quiet. Friday the 28th and Saturday the 29th are small and a bit scrappy. We’ve got a long-period SSW groundswell rolling in – solid 16 to 18 second intervals – but the size is just not there, sitting around 3 ft to 4 ft. The energy is moderate on Friday, around 595, and builds to a stronger 1022-1102 by Saturday, but the winds are cross or cross-off, which keeps the surface messy. It’s a lot of energy for not much wave. Hold out.

Sunday the 30th is the first real mention. The morning sees a 4 ft SSW swell with that same long 16-second period, and the combined energy jumps up to a very strong 1377. The wind is a gentle cross-shore, so there’s some bump, but the potential is there. It’s not perfect, but it’s the start of something. By Monday the 31st, it drops back into the small stuff, with lighter cross-onshore winds making for rippled faces. The energy levels fall off, too.

Now, there’s a decent window mid-week. Wednesday the 3rd of September through to Friday the 5th, the swell picks up, but the direction swings around to WNW and NW. On Thursday the 3rd, the morning hits 5 ft from the WNW with energy at 1152, and the afternoon pushes up to 6 ft from the NW with a very strong 1452 energy reading. The problem? The period drops to 11-12 seconds, and the winds turn cross and cross-onshore. It’s going to be chunky and bumpy – more of a battle than a glide. Honestly, with those conditions and the exposed reef, this setup might be more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

The real standout, and I mean the one to circle, is Monday the 7th of September. Early morning, the wind goes glassy. Flat calm. The swell is a clean 3 ft from the SSW, with a deep 14-second period pushing through, carrying a moderate energy of 407. It’s not big, but it will be smooth as silk. You’ll get those glassy walls on the reef with no wind to mess it up. This is the best quality surf on offer, plain and simple.

We’ve got another bump around Tuesday the 8th and Wednesday the 9th with 5 ft NW swell, but it’s short-period at 8 to 10 seconds. That’s weak, crumbly stuff, and the winds are cross to cross-off again. Lots of energy in the water (695-743), but the shape will be average.

Heading into the second week, it’s a bit more of the same – persistent SW groundswells, mostly between 2 ft and 4 ft, with moderate energy and a lot of cross-shore breeze. Nothing to get overly excited about, to be honest. It’s a long-range view, so take it with a pinch of salt.

So, to wrap it up: if you want clean faces, you’re looking at Monday the 7th of September. That glassy morning is your window. For the biggest, chunkiest, most powerful swell of the period, that’s Thursday the 3rd into Friday the 4th, but be ready for a bumpy ride.

Rusty.

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