Inch Reefs Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’m gonna level with ya—this outlook for Inch Reefs is a tough one. We’ve got a solid 16-day window staring at us, but don’t get your hopes up too quick. There’s a big fat gap of nothing for the first several days, with only one brief moment where it might just come together.

The water’s sitting at 64°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. Makes a wetsuit a bit more bearable, but you’ll still want one.

Alright, let’s start from the top. Tuesday the 11th kicks off with nothing—tiny 1ft swell from the WSW with a long 12-second period, so it’s got some energy (90 combined swell energy), but it’s weak and lumped up with a cross-shore wind. Forget it. Wednesday the 12th and Thursday the 13th are similar—marginal at best, with 5ft to 5ft of WSW swell but cross-onshore winds messing it all up. The combined energy bumps up to moderate numbers like 350 and 439, but the conditions are rubbish.

Friday the 14th shows a tiny glimmer. Morning is still messy with 5ft from the W at 8 seconds (300 combined energy) and a cross wind. But by the afternoon, things clean up. We’ve got 5ft from the WNW, 8-second period, combined energy of 301, and a cross-offshore wind from the NNW at 12 mph. The waves are clean. For a point break like Inch Reefs, that’s the best we’ll see for a while. It’s not huge, but it’s manageable for an advanced surfer. Keep in mind it’s a point break, so that short period swell won’t be the best shape, but with clean wind, you can still get some fun ones. Crowds can show up sometimes, so don’t expect a solo session.

Then it’s back to the doldrums. Saturday the 15th drops to 1ft of nothing. Sunday the 16th morning is just 3ft of weak 4-second slop. The afternoon jumps to 7ft from the SW at 7 seconds (479 combined energy), but it’s cross-shore and bumpy—marginal at best.

Now, Monday the 17th morning is the standout. Clear skies, light offshore from the ESE at just 3 mph, and 5ft of W swell at 8 seconds. Combined energy is moderate at 222, and the comment says “expect good surf conditions.” That’s the one to circle. Clean, offshore winds at a point break like Inch Reefs will give you proper, peeling lines. It’s not huge, but for an advanced surfer, that’s a fun morning. Just remember, crowds sometimes roll in here.

After that, it’s a long, sad run. From Monday afternoon through to Wednesday the 26th, it’s all poor. Sizes drop to 0.7ft to 5ft, winds are cross-on or howling, and the combined energy mostly stays below 100 or moderate but messy. There’s a spike on Sunday the 23rd afternoon with 5ft from the SW at 8 seconds and 546 combined energy, but it’s onshore and unknown conditions—no good. Monday the 24th morning hits 8ft from the WNW at 7 seconds (587 combined energy), but that’s a strong cross-shore wind at 28 mph. That’s kite-surfing territory, not paddle surfing.

So, bottom line: the only real window of decent surf is Friday afternoon the 14th and Monday morning the 17th. The rest is a write-off. If you’re patient, the 17th morning looks the best. Otherwise, it’s a long wait.

Rusty.

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