Fishermans Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into it. I’ve scanned the charts for the next 16 days, and I gotta be honest with you – it’s a tough stretch. The finder is throwin’ up a big fat zero for recommendations, so we’re in for a quiet period. The good news? It’s not all doom and gloom; there are some windows where the wind lays down, but the swell is just not cooperating for a proper paddle session.

Let’s start with the only game in town, Fishermans Reef. This spot is a very sheltered reef, and it’s rated for beginners, but it *rarely breaks*. That’s the big caveat right there. The water is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, sitting at 57°, which is about a degree and a half off the average.

The first week is a write-off. From Monday 20 July through to Thursday 24 July, we’re looking at tiny, weak swell. Heights are bouncing between 0.7ft and 3ft, but the energy is pathetic – we’re talking values in the low double digits (25), barely touching 67 on the 24th. The period is short and choppy, mostly under 6 seconds. It’s just not surfable.

Now, things get a little more interesting from Friday 25 July. The wind turns offshore from the WSW, blowing strong at 25-40 km/h. That cleans the surface up, but the swell is still tiny, only 1ft to 1ft. The period starts to stretch out, hitting 11 seconds, which is a sign of groundswell, but the energy is still weak (29 to 60). It’s clean, but you’d be fighting that strong breeze just to paddle into a ripple.

The real tease comes at the end of July and into the start of August. On Monday 27 July, the swell direction shifts to the east, and the period jumps to 13 seconds. The energy finally climbs into the moderate range (90 to 128). The wind is offshore or cross-offshore, keeping it clean. The swell height is still only 2ft to 2ft, though. For a little reef like this, that’s a knee-high wave at best. It’s worth a look if you’re desperate, but it’s not a standout.

The best of the bunch, and the only real highlight in the whole 16 days, looks like Tuesday 28 July. The morning sees a 3ft east swell, with a 13-second period. The energy jumps to 233 (moderate), and the wind is a clean cross-offshore breeze. The afternoon cleans up even more with a gentle offshore wind. This is the one day where the stars partially align. The swell is still small, but the quality is there. The direction from the east is bang on for this break, and with that period, you’ll get some nice, lined-up waves on the reef. Don’t expect barrels, but it’ll be the most fun you can have in this entire window.

After that, it fades back into tiny, low-energy conditions. The 30th of July throws up a 4ft NNW windswell with a short 5-second period and 156 energy, but it’s cross-offshore and messy. The 1st of August has a 16-second period swell, but it’s a tiny 0.7ft from the NNE – a ghost. The 4th of August shows a 5ft NNW swell with a 5-second period and 143 energy, but it’s blowing onshore at 20 km/h, making it a total washout.

So, the verdict: There’s a 9-day gap from the start with no surf to speak of. The only real window is around Tuesday 28 July at Fishermans Reef. It’s not a classic, but it’s the best we’ve got. The rest of the time, it’s a good stretch to clean the wax off your board or just watch the horizon. Things can change, but right now, it’s a patience game.

Rusty.

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