Inch Reefs Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty, and I’ve been staring at the charts for Inch Reefs, and I gotta be straight with you – this outlook is a long, slow burn. We’ve got a good 16 days on the table, but the first week is a write-off. There’s just no energy out there, and when it does show up, the wind has it all messy. We’re talking about a solid 5-day gap from the start with nothing worth paddling for. Then things slowly start to turn, but it’s not until the very end that we get a real cracker.

The water’s sitting at 63° for the first call, and that’s a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so you might get away with a thinner steamer.

For the first few days, we’ve got south and south-west swells hitting Inch Reefs, a solid point break that needs that SW direction to work. But the problem is the wind. On the 5th, we’ve got a tiny 3 ft S swell at 4 seconds, but it’s an onshore breeze with only 44 units of energy. It’s just no good. The 6th and 7th see the swell jump up to 8 ft and 10 ft, with the energy climbing to 703 and then 2388, but the wind is either cross-on or onshore, often strong, making it a lumpy, messy mess. That’s really only for the hardcore or the kite crew, because with that wind and a beach/point setup, it’s looking more interesting for kiting than paddling.

We get a bit of a lull from the 8th to the 15th, with only tiny scraps of swell – nothing over 2 ft and mostly dead energy. The wind goes light and even glassy at times, which is a tease, but there’s simply no wave to ride. It’s a flat spell.

Then, on the 16th of September, Wednesday afternoon, we finally see something click. The swell jumps to 8 ft from the W at 8 seconds, with 776 units of energy. The wind goes light and cross-off from the N, and the forecast is calling for “expect very good surf conditions.” That’s a standout for the experienced crew – that 8 ft is pushing into expert territory, but with clean conditions, it’ll be a ripper session for those who can handle it. Crowds are always a possibility here, but with how flat it’s been, it might be quieter than usual.

The real gem, though, is the 18th of September, Friday afternoon. We get a 8 ft W swell with a 10-second period, and the energy is pumping at 1023. The wind is dead calm, glassy, and the forecast is “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” That’s the best on offer. The water will be clean, the waves will have proper shape, and that point will be running. It’s a full day for the advanced crew.

The 19th and 20th still have some size, around 8 ft and 6 ft, but the wind swings onshore or cross-on, making it a bit of a battle again. So, mark your calendar for the 16th and 18th – that’s where the magic is.

Rusty.

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