Higgins Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ve gotta be straight with you—this 16-day window for Higgins Beach is pretty grim. We’re looking at a long stretch of weak, choppy, and mostly un-surfable conditions. There’s a real gap in quality surf, and honestly, you’ll be waiting over a week before anything even starts to look slightly interesting. The first real sniff of anything that might be worth a paddle doesn’t come until the Thursday morning of the 23rd of July.

Let’s break it down. The water temperature is sitting at 66°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so that’s one small win.

The first week is a write-off. From Friday the 17th right through to Wednesday the 22nd of July, it’s all tiny, wind-affected junk. We’re talking swell heights barely scraping 0.3 ft to 3 ft, with periods as short as 4 seconds. The wind is mostly cross-onshore, making for choppy, messy conditions. The combined wave energy is pathetic, often in the low double digits (10 to 54). You’d be better off saving your petrol.

Early on Thursday the 23rd of July, we see a slight pulse. The swell picks up to 4 ft from the SSE, with a period of 9 seconds, and the combined energy climbs to 226 (moderate). The morning is still a bit cross-shore and messy, but the afternoon clears up with a light offshore breeze from the NW. That’s your best bet in the first week and a half: a clean, 4 ft swell from the SE. It’s not a standout, but it’s the first time the wind is genuinely good. The break is exposed, so it’ll pick up whatever is on offer, and it’s consistent, so you won’t be waiting forever. Crowds are often here, so expect company.

Friday the 24th and Saturday the 25th of July are a step back. The wind goes cross-onshore again, and the swell holds around 3 ft to 4 ft, but it’s messy. The combined energy sits around 116 to 154 (moderate). The Saturday afternoon of the 25th does go glassy, with a 4 ft SSE swell, but the wave comment says it’s still just ordinary.

The rest of the month into early August is a repeat of the same story: small swells, poor wind, and low energy. The combined energy drops back into the double digits (32 to 143) and the swell stays under 3 ft for most of it. The period picks up a touch on the 29th of July, hitting 10 seconds from the ESE, but the swell is only 2 ft and the wind is messy.

For the whole 16 days, there’s only one window that’s even a ‘maybe’ on the 23rd of July afternoon. Even then, it’s not a gem. This is a lean run, and with the inconsistent, poor quality on offer, it’s the kind of stretch where you don’t force it. Higgins Beach is a consistent spot, so it’s a bit of a bummer.

Rusty.

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