Gilligans Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cooking for Gilligans.

We’re in for a bit of a slow start, but the second half of this outlook has some absolute fire on the horizon. The first week or so is pretty ordinary, with a lot of cross-shore breezes messing up the surface. The water temp is sitting at 86°, which is about a degree and a half warmer than average for this time of year – nothing too crazy, just a touch of tropical warmth.

The first real glimmer of hope comes on Monday the 27th of July. That afternoon, the wind swings light and cross-offshore from the ESE, giving us a clean 4ft swell from the SSE. It’s not huge, but the conditions will be a welcome relief after all the chop. The combined energy is moderate at 538 (moderate energy).

The standout window, and the one to circle on your calendar, kicks off on Wednesday morning the 29th of July. We’ve got clean conditions again with a light ESE cross-offshore breeze, and a 3ft SSW groundswell with a period of 14 seconds – that’s proper long-period energy. The combined swell energy is 1005 (moderate energy). It’s a great setup for a reef break like Gilligans, with those longer lines wrapping in nicely.

Then it really steps up. Thursday the 30th of July morning sees a 4ft SSW groundswell with a period of 19 seconds – that’s a very long period groundswell. The combined energy jumps to 1532, and with clean conditions and a light ESE cross-offshore breeze, this is prime time. The surf will be well-shaped, though with a period that long, keep an eye on how it hits the reef; it should be fantastic.

The real highlight, though, is Tuesday the 4th of August. That morning, a 8ft S swell with a 19-second period rolls in, with a light offshore from the ENE keeping it glassy. The combined energy is a massive 4226 (very strong energy). That afternoon, it goes fully glassy with a light N breeze, a 8ft S swell, and an energy reading of 5761 – that is exceptional. This is expert territory, no doubt about it. The waves will be powerful, steep, and long-period. This is a day for the experienced crew only.

Wednesday the 5th of August morning also looks excellent, with a 8ft S swell and glassy conditions from a light NE breeze. The combined energy is 3438 (strong energy). Another expert session on the cards.

The takeaway: the first week is mostly a write-off save for a couple of cleaner windows, but the last few days of July and the first week of August are where it’s at. The 30th of July and the 4th of August are the absolute standouts – mark those dates. Gilligans is a very consistent reef break, and crowds are possible, so get there early for the best of it.

Rusty.

Read more