Forster Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. We’ve got a bit of a slow burn in store for Forster Beach over the next couple of weeks. Don’t go getting your hopes up for the first week because it’s pretty flat and ordinary for a few days. Let’s get into it.

The first real chance for a paddle will be early on Friday morning the 7th of August. It’s only small at 2ft of SSE swell, but with the wind glassing off from the SW, it’ll be clean as a whistle. The combined energy will be at a moderate 127, so there’s a little bit of push there, but it’s pretty weak overall. It’s really only a beginner-friendly knee-high dribbler, but if you’re just keen to get wet, it’s the pick of a very quiet start.

Saturday morning the 8th holds more of the same: 2ft, glassy conditions again, but still tiny and weak at 108 on the energy scale. We then hit a few days of ordinary, blown-out conditions. On Sunday the 9th the wind swings onshore and picks up, and by Monday the 10th we get a gusty offshore with a tiny 4ft afternoon and a small 7ft morning, but it’s messy and the swell’s all over the place. Honestly, it’s not worth the drive.

Now we get to the good stuff. Tuesday the 11th of August – this is the standout by a country mile. Early morning, we’re looking at 8ft of SSW groundswell running at 11 seconds, putting out a strong 1350 combined energy. It’s not for the beginners, this one – over 5ft, pushing 8ft, so leave the learner boards at home. The wind is a light offshore from the WNW, keeping it clean and lined up. For the experienced crew, this is the session to circle on the calendar, because that’s proper surf. The afternoon will see the NE seabreeze mess it up, so make sure you’re out early. Forster Beach here is fairly exposed to the SSE, but the SSW direction should wrap in nicely.

After that, the swell drops back a bit through the midweek. Thursday the 13th and Friday the 14th stay around the 7ft to 8ft mark, but the periods drop to 6 or 7 seconds, which is short and crumbly. The wind is offshore but strong (cross-off from the SW at 15 mph), so it’ll be clean but the waves won’t have much grunt or shape. Saturday the 15th still has size at 8ft in the morning from the SE, with a 9-second period and gentle offshore winds. It’s a big, lumpy day that will appeal to stronger surfers if they can find a bank.

Into the second week, the swell stays big. Monday the 17th of August has 10ft of ESE swell with a solid 11-second period and moderate energy (2413). The wind is cross-shore, though, so it’s not perfect. The real hidden gem comes on Tuesday the 18th and Wednesday the 19th. Tuesday morning we get clean, glassy conditions from a calm S wind, with a 7ft ESE groundswell at 10 seconds – that’s 864 energy of clean, punchy surf. Wednesday morning is also glassy with a light NNW breeze, similar 7ft ESE swell at 9 seconds, energy at 970. For a beach break, these two mornings are the pick of the long-range period because the glass-off makes them rideable even with the size.

One thing to note for Forster Beach: it’s a beginner-friendly spot under normal conditions, but when the swell pushes over 5ft, it gets challenging. Once we’re over 8ft, it’s expert territory, so take that in mind for those bigger days mid-month.

Water temp is sitting about average for the time of year, nothing weird going on under the hood. Crowds can crop up here often, so don’t expect to have it to yourself, especially on the clean mornings.

So to wrap it up: if you’ve got a flexible schedule, the absolute best window is Tuesday the 11th of August early, with the 8ft SSW groundswell and light offshore. For a close second, Tuesday the 18th and Wednesday the 19th mornings offer glassy, clean 7ft surf that’s a bit more user-friendly. The first week is mostly a write-off unless you’re happy with ankle-slappers, and the second week brings the size but needs the right wind.

Stay wet, stay keen. This is Rusty signing off.

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