Fortress Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, and I’ve got a look at the surf for the next couple of weeks. The swell is generally small and the wind is a problem, so we’re in for a bit of a lean spell.

First up, the only real spot on the radar is Fortress (reef). It’s a beginner-friendly reef break that’s fairly consistent and exposed to the swell. The water’s sitting at about 68°F, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so you’ll want a decent spring suit.

We kick off on Sunday the 19th with a weak 2ft south swell (period around 7 seconds) and a moderate offshore wind from the west. The combined energy is weak (52) – it’s surfable, but the conditions are very ordinary. Not exactly a standout.

Monday the 20th is the best of the early run. The morning goes glassy, dead calm, with a 2ft south swell. The combined energy is still low (61), but for a small wave, it’ll be clean. Monday afternoon turns choppy, so that morning window is the one to chase.

From Tuesday the 21st through to the end of the month, it’s a lot of poor surf conditions. The wind is mostly cross-onshore or straight onshore, with a lot of chop and lumpy water. The swell stays small, usually under 3ft, and the period is short. There’s a brief spike on Wednesday the 22nd when the swell hits 6ft from the south (period 9 seconds) with a moderate cross-offshore wind. The combined energy jumps to 561 – that’s moderate wave energy. The conditions are clean, but the forecast says it’s marginal for quality. For a confident surfer on a reef, it could be a fun session, but it’s not a clear standout.

After that, we drop back into a long stretch of poor conditions. The wind stays messy, and the swell is weak and short-period. The only real break in the pattern comes on Sunday the 26th with a gentle offshore wind and a 2ft swell, and again on Monday the 27th with glassy conditions in the morning, but the swell is still tiny. Combined energy is below 100.

Into the first week of August, it’s more of the same: small, weak swell, short periods, and cross-onshore winds. There’s a gap of several days here with no real recommendations. Nothing stands out as a true "go" session.

Overall, the best bet is Monday morning the 20th for a clean, glassy, small wave session on the reef. Everything else is a fight against the wind for ankle-to-knee-high slop. Keep an eye on the Wednesday the 22nd window if you’re a stronger paddler, but it’s not a guarantee.

Rusty.

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