Depot Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Righto, let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for Depot Beach over the next couple of weeks.

First up, things are pretty flat and ordinary for the next few days. The water temp is sittin’ about average for this time of year, nothin’ to write home about. Saturday the 22nd is a total write-off – tiny 1 ft NE windswell with barely any energy (18) and glassy conditions, but the waves are just too weak to bother. Sunday the 23rd shows a bit of a pulse from the south, with a 2 ft swell at a nice long 13 seconds, and the energy picks up to 238 – that’s moderate. But the wind is a messy cross-onshore, so it’s gonna be a bit bumpy. Still, that longer period suggests some push, so it might be worth a paddle for the desperate.

Monday and Tuesday stay pretty average – small, mixed-up swells with light cross-shore winds. The real change starts Wednesday the 26th. Wednesday afternoon sees a 5 ft NE swell, period at 8 seconds, and strong energy (303), but the wind swings cross-off from the SSW, cleaning it right up. That’s when Depot Beach starts to show its teeth. Thursday the 27th morning is a standout – glassy conditions, 4 ft NE swell, clean lines, energy at 204. That’s your first real chance for a decent session.

Friday the 28th morning is even better – glassy again, 4 ft ENE swell with a 9-second period, energy at 221. The swell direction matches the optimum (SE exposure, so this ENE swell wraps in nicely). This is the pick of the first week – clean, punchy, and not too big for most. Keep an eye on the crowds, because when it’s like this, Depot can get a few.

The weekend of the 29th and 30th gets a bit lumpy again with onshore influences, but Sunday the 30th morning has a 5 ft S swell with 7-second period and strong energy (343) – a bit short period, so it’ll be a bit fat and walled up at the beach, but the SSW cross-off wind keeps it clean. More of a kite-surfing setup with that short-period power, honestly.

Then we hit a quiet patch from Monday the 31st right through to Wednesday the 3rd of September – mostly poor conditions, small swell, onshore or cross winds. Nothing to get excited about.

But hold onto your board… Friday the 4th of September morning. That’s the real gem. A 7 ft S swell, 9-second period, and massive energy (720) – that’s very strong. Glassy conditions, light WNW wind. This is a solid, powerful groundswell for experts only – over 8 ft is pushing it, but at 7 ft it’s still within range for strong intermediates who know what they’re doing. The direction is straight out of the south, which is perfect for Depot’s exposed SE setup. This is the standout of the whole outlook – a proper clean south swell with heaps of energy. Just be aware, at that size, the paddle-out might be a mission, and the sets will be long and meaty.

Saturday the 5th and Sunday the 6th clean up nicely with smaller swell, but Friday is the one to circle on the calendar.

Overall, there’s a slow start, a few decent windows mid-week, then a week-long lull before a cracking south groundswell on Friday the 4th of September. Keep an eye on that one.

- Rusty

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