Fishermans Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty. Let's get real about the forecast for Fishermans Reef.

Alright mate, I've got to be straight with you – the outlook for Fishermans Reef over the next 16 days is a flat, frustrating stretch of nothing. Every single entry in the forecast says "poor surf conditions" with a score of zero. There are no standout days, no hidden gems, just a whole lot of waiting. The first few days are a total write-off, with tiny swells and poor quality right through the weekend and into the following week. This is a very sheltered reef that rarely breaks, and this forecast is a perfect example of why.

We kick off on Monday, 20 July with a tiny 0.7 ft easterly swell, but the wave energy is weak (13). The wind is glassy in the morning, which is nice, but there's just nothing to ride. Tuesday, 21 July sees a slight bump to 3 ft from the east, but the period is a short, weak 6 seconds, and the energy is still low (69). The wind is cross-shore, making it messy. Wednesday, 22 July, it drops back down. The water temp is 58°, which is about normal for the time of year.

The real kicker is that even when the offshore winds arrive – like on Wednesday afternoon with a clean 12 mph offshore breeze – the swell is a pathetic 1 ft. A few days later, from Thursday, 24 July into the weekend, we get a pulse of NNW windswell, but it's onshore with a fresh cross-wind, creating lumpy, choppy conditions. The energy on Friday afternoon hits 120, which is moderate, but it's tied to a 5 ft, 5-second windswell that's just ugly. It's the kind of setup that looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

The second week of the forecast offers a consistent pattern: small, clean, and absolutely flat. From Saturday, 25 July all the way through to Sunday, 02 August, we see a persistent 1 ft to 1 ft easterly swell with long periods (11-15 seconds) and mostly clean offshore winds. The energy stays moderate (43-67). But that swell height is just too small to break properly. It's a tease. You'll be standing on the beach, looking at a glassy ocean, and wondering where the waves are. The single exception is a tiny pulse of NNW swell on Thursday, 30 July, reaching 4 ft, but it's on a cross-onshore wind and short, weak period (6 seconds) – total chop. Inconsistent and rarely breaks sums it up.

Don't get your hopes up for the first week of August either. The swell remains small, and while the winds are clean, the waves are just not there. This is a blank run, and for a spot this sheltered, it's more normal than you'd hope. Keep the board in the car, and check back in a few days – forecasts can change, but right now, there's nothing to paddle for.

Rusty.

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