Fort Cronkite Rodeo Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let’s talk about the next couple of weeks for Fort Cronkite Rodeo Beach. This spot is a sandbar setup, and it’s very consistent, so there’s always something to look at, but the quality is going to be a real mixed bag. We’re starting off with a bit of a wait, but things get interesting.

The first real chance to paddle out comes Saturday morning, September 5th. The swell is a modest 3ft from the SSW, but it’s a long-period groundswell at 16 seconds – that’s proper energy for a sandbar, even if it’s a bit sheltered here. The wind is totally glassy, 3 mph from the west, and the water is about average for the time of year. The combined energy is moderate (669). It’s small, but it’ll be clean and fun for a beginner-friendly wave. This is your best bet for the first week. However, Saturday afternoon gets wrecked by a 12 mph cross-onshore wind, so get it in the morning.

Sunday the 6th and Monday the 7th are similar in size, around 3ft, but the wind is a mess. Sunday is cross-onshore all day, and Monday morning is the standout for the early part of the week. Monday morning, September 7th, has a light offshore breeze from the ENE at 6 mph, which will clean up that 3ft SSW swell (14-second period). The energy is moderate (445). That’s a good window for a few hours before the afternoon cross-onshore kills it.

The middle of the week, from Tuesday the 8th through to the weekend, is mostly poor. The swell drops, the wind is often cross-onshore or onshore, and the water gets a bit lumpy. A few morning sessions on Wednesday the 9th (glassy, 3ft) and Thursday the 10th (2ft) are borderline, but nothing to write home about. The energy is low to moderate (400-600 range). The crowds are listed as “sometimes” here, so you might have company on those clean windows.

Now, the real standout is at the very end of the forecast. We’ve got a gap of several days of weak, poor surf from around the 14th to the 17th of September, with energy dropping to just 140-234. That’s a flat spell. Then, on Friday morning, September 18th, the whole game changes. The swell jumps to 8ft from the WNW (10-second period), and the combined energy is very strong (1458). The wind is glassy, from the NW at 3 mph. This is a big, powerful, clean swell. However, 8ft is expert territory—it’s too big for beginners. The short period (10 seconds) means it’ll be a bit dumpy on the beach, but with glassy conditions, it’ll be a hell of a sight for the experienced crew.

Saturday morning, September 19th, is similar: 8ft from the WNW, glassy, with very strong energy (1291). Another epic morning for experts, but the afternoon gets blown out. Sunday morning, September 20th, drops to a more manageable 5ft from the WNW, still glassy and clean (energy 685). That’s your best bet for the second week if you’re not a big-wave charger, but it’s still a solid size.

Overall, the early mornings are your friend. The first week has a few small, clean windows, but the second week has the real power. The Friday and Saturday mornings (18th and 19th) are the true standouts, but they’re for experienced surfers only. The Sunday morning (20th) is the best all-rounder for the second week.

Rusty.

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