Hullets Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here.

Well, looking at the charts for our region, it’s a bit of a mixed bag for the next couple of weeks. We’ve got some serious swell windows, but the wind’s gonna be the main character in this story, and it’s not always gonna be on our side. The forecast starts off with a bit of a dud, so don’t rush out there just yet.

The first proper call is Hullets Reef on Thursday the 10th of September. Wednesday afternoon is a write-off – there’s a bit of swell but it’s crossed-up and messy. But Thursday morning, the wind swings west and goes cross-offshore, cleaning up that 4ft SW swell. It’s a start, but the real standout is Thursday afternoon. The swell jumps to 7ft from the southwest with a long 16-second period, and the wind goes properly offshore. The energy jumps right up, and this is where it gets good. It’s solid, powerful surf for those who know what they’re doing.

Friday morning brings some relief with the wind going glassy. That 6ft SW swell at 13 seconds will be smooth and clean, offering some great waves. But don’t get too comfortable; by Friday afternoon, a cross-onshore breeze ruins the party, and it stays messy right through the weekend. The swell stays in the 3ft to 7ft range, but with that east wind blowing 19-22 mph, it’s just lumpy and poor. This stretch is a real test of patience.

We finally get a break from the onshores on Monday the 14th of September. The morning has a bit of a cross-on wind, but the swell is solid at 8ft. Then, the afternoon turns it on again. The wind goes offshore from the WSW, and even though the swell is a shorter-period 7ft, it’s going to be clean. Then Tuesday the 15th looks magic for a morning surf. The wind is glassy, the 5ft swell is still wrapping in, and it’s going to be perfect.

Now, here’s where we need to keep an eye on the calendar. For the week that’s more than a week away, the long-range charts are looking promising but are less certain. The standout in that second week is Wednesday the 16th of September. The swell is well overhead at 12ft in the morning from the SW, with a fresh offshore wind. It’s big and powerful, definitely not for the faint of heart or beginners. That afternoon, it eases a shade to 10ft but stays clean and strong, a fantastic session if you’ve got the skills. This is the biggest and best-looking swell of the whole run.

The weekend of the 19th and 20th is okay, but the wind is too strong and mostly cross-on, making things messy, with a 7ft swell it won't be worth the paddle out. After that, the wind goes back onshore and it’s a bit of a battle. There’s a glimmer on Tuesday the 22nd of September afternoon, with a clean 5ft SSW swell and a moderate offshore wind, which would be a nice way to finish. But then it just gets blown out again by strong cross-onshores, and the 23rd sees a big, messy, close-out swell. The last day in the run, the 24th, is poor, with rain showers and lumpy surf.

So, to be honest, the true standouts are Thursday the 10th of September afternoon and Wednesday the 16th of September. The 10th is a great, solid, clean start to the run. The 16th is the heavy-duty one – big, powerful, and clean, perfect for the experts. It’s a long-range call, so don’t book the day off work just yet, but it’s looking like the pick of the bunch. Remember, the water’s running much colder than normal for this time of year, about 7°F colder, so you’ll want the thickest wetsuit you’ve got.

Keep an eye on the charts. It tends not to stay flat for long around here.

Rusty.

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