Duds Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, giving you the lowdown on the local surf. Let’s be honest, we’re staring down a long stretch of flat, blown-out nothing. The first time you’d even think about paddling out is Thursday afternoon, August 20th, at Duds Reef. That’s a good few days of getting skunked, so be patient.

Water temp at Duds Reef is 81°F, which is right about average for the season.

So, Thursday afternoon, August 20th, is your first real chance. The wind goes completely glassy, dead calm, which is a huge bonus. We’re looking at a tiny 2ft swell from the southwest, with a moderate energy level (398). The swell period is a long 17 seconds, a proper groundswell, and for a reef break like Duds, that’s a good thing – it’ll wrap in and give you some shape. It’s ankle to knee high, but clean and rideable on a longboard.

After that, it’s a long grind. From Friday morning, August 21st, all the way through the end of the month, the trade winds decide to ruin everything. They’re blowing from the ENE at 19 to 25 mph, and it’s a constant cross-shore. The swell gets bigger, with the combined energy climbing well into the hundreds and even hitting 1722 by August 29th, but the wind just tears it apart. The charts keep saying “poor surf conditions,” and that’s the truth. It’s going to be lumpy, choppy, and a total mess.

The one standout, way down the line, is the start of September. It’s a long-range call, but it looks promising. On the morning of September 2nd, we’ve got a 4ft swell from the south with a very long period of 19 seconds, and the energy is high at 1637. The wind is light, just a slight air from the east, so it should be clean. But the report says “marginal surf forecast,” so don’t get your hopes up too high. The swell direction is south, not the ideal SSE for Duds, so it might not fire perfectly. Still, it’s the best thing on the horizon.

Bottom line: the first week is a washout. The second week has some size but it’s all wind-affected. Your best bet is that glassy Thursday afternoon, or keep an eye on the first few days of September for a shot at something cleaner.

Rusty.

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