Duds Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cooking for the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – the start of this forecast is a tough one. The ocean’s just not cooperating for a proper paddle session. We’ve got a small, long-period SW groundswell rolling in, but the wind is a mess and the conditions are everywhere. The water temp is sitting at a warm 81°F, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so at least you won’t need a thick suit.

The first real glimmer of hope is on Friday, August 21st, in the afternoon. Duds Reef is calling our name. We’re looking at a clean 3 ft SSW swell with a 16-second period, and the wind is forecast to go glassy. That’s the kind of smooth, mirror-like surface we live for. The swell energy is moderate at 366, and the wind is offshore light, so the reef should be offering up some clean, lined-up waves. This is a standout session for the patient surfer.

Moving into the second week, the pattern gets a bit more interesting, but the wind turns messy again. A strong E/ENE wind kicks in, making a mess of things for a few days. However, look at Wednesday, August 26th, in the afternoon. We’ve got a clean 3 ft S swell and a 18-second period, with a light cross-offshore breeze from the NNE. The combined energy is strong at 660, and the conditions are described as clean. That’s a real sweet spot for Duds Reef – a long-period groundswell wrapping in with no wind chop.

Then, on Thursday, August 27th, the afternoon session is another one to circle. The swell drops to 3 ft from the S, but the period is a solid 16 seconds and the wind is a light cross-offshore from the NNE again. The wave energy is strong at 693, and the report says “clean.” This is a proper small-wave reef day, where the lines will be long and the takeoffs forgiving.

The very end of the run, on September 1st and 2nd, sees a jump in size. The swell pushes to 7-7 ft from the E, with a 10-second period. The combined energy is very strong (1204 and 1075). This is solid, meaty surf, but it’s still cross-shore wind, so it’ll be a bit lumpy. This is more for the experienced crew; beginners should stay out of the way. The long period groundswell will be better for the reef setup here, but the cross-shore breeze will keep it from being truly perfect.

Overall, the best bets are the late afternoon glass-off on the 21st, and the clean windows on the 26th and 27th. The rest of the time, we’re fighting the wind or the size.

Rusty out.

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