Hullets Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, mate, Rusty here. Let's have a good look at what's coming our way for the next couple of weeks.

We've got a proper run of swell on the cards, no doubt about that. The first few days are going to be big, I mean *proper* big, so leave the foamies at home and bring your big-wave gun if you’ve got the nerve. The water temp is sitting at a chilly 56°F – that's a massive 10°F colder than it should be for this time of year down at Hullets Reef. You’ll want a thick steamer and some booties, that’s for sure.

The whole window really kicks off on Tuesday afternoon, August 18th. The morning shows a solid 7ft of southwest groundswell, but the wind is a bit messy. By the afternoon, it cleans right up with a sweet offshore breeze (9 mph) and the swell jumps to a powerful 8ft from the SW (combined wave energy of 2283). That’s expert territory, but it’s going to be clean, powerful, and punchy on the reef.

Wednesday the 19th starts off even bigger – a thumping 10ft SW groundswell (2412 energy) with a light cross-offshore wind. It's still only for experienced surfers, but the morning session is the pick. The afternoon gets blown out by a strong 22 mph offshore wind, which makes it pretty sketchy.

Now, Thursday the 20th is where things get wild. The morning has a 13ft SW swell (5332 energy) – that’s a lot of water moving around. It’s clean with a light breeze, but that’s simply for absolute experts only. Thursday afternoon drops slightly to 12ft but with a gentler cross-offshore wind, and the score is better. This is probably the best session for the big-wave crew, with cleaner conditions and a bit more shape.

Friday the 21st is a write-off, I’m afraid. The wind swings onshore and chop ruins what would be a decent 8ft swell. Don’t bother.

Saturday the 22nd is a strange one. Massive swell again – 16ft on the afternoon (6681 energy) – but the wind is howling at 34 mph. That’s kite-surfing territory, not really for paddling. It'll be a washing machine out there.

Sunday the 23rd offers redemption. A strong 13ft SW swell early with moderate cross-offshore breezes. By the afternoon, you’ve got a clean 12ft SW swell (3184 energy) with a proper offshore wind at 12 mph. That’s a standout session for the experienced lads – clean, lined up, and powerful.

We cool down a bit going into the next week. Monday the 24th and Tuesday the 25th mornings both offer good, clean conditions. Tuesday morning is a real treat – glassy conditions with a solid 10ft SW swell (2397 energy). The period is 12 seconds, so a proper groundswell that will wrap nicely into the reef. Keep your eyes open for a few other crew though, as crowds are "sometimes" an issue here.

There’s a bit of a lull around August 27th and 28th where it gets smaller (3ft to 4ft). That’s not really worth the trip unless you’re on a longboard or a foamie. The wind is off or light, so it will be clean, but there just isn't enough juice.

Saturday August 29th sees a new pulse of 8ft SW groundswell, but the wind is onshore and messy. It’s not great, but I’d keep an eye on it if the forecast changes.

The very end of the window, around September 1st and 2nd, shows another big pulse. The afternoon of the 1st looks excellent – clean 7ft SW swell with a light offshore breeze. Then Wednesday the 2nd has a massive 12ft to 13ft SW swell rolling in, but the wind is cross-onshore, so it'll be a bit lumpy and probably best left to the brave or the kite crew.

Best bets: Thursday 20th afternoon for the big-wave specialists, and Sunday 23rd afternoon for a cleaner, still powerful session. Tuesday 25th morning is the glassy gem in the middle of the week.

Rusty.

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