Inch Reefs Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, mate, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer for Inch Reefs over the next couple of weeks.

Straight up, I’ll be honest with you – this is a tough stretch. The forecast is a real mixed bag of tiny waves, choppy onshores, and a lot of "poor surf conditions" scribbled in the logbook. There’s a clear gap of absolutely nothing worth getting wet for right through until the morning of the 12th of August. That’s a solid week of flat or messy dribble where your best bet is to wax the longboard and leave it on the car roof for good luck.

The first hint of something with a bit of grunt shows up on the morning of Wednesday the 12th. The swell is pushing 6 ft from the WSW, but the period is a short 10 seconds, so it’s going to be a bit lumpy. The combined energy is moderate (557), but the wind is a cross-shore from the SSE, which puts a bit of a chop on the face. The call is "marginal surf" – it’s rideable for the keen, but it’s not going to be a standout. The afternoon gets worse with a stronger onshore.

The next morning, Thursday the 13th, lifts a bit. The swell is up to 7 ft from the west, with a 10-second period, and the wind is an onshore breeze from the WSW. The energy is strong (783) but the onshore wind means it’s going to be a bumpy, roping mess. This is solidly advanced territory – too big for beginners and not clean enough for the average punter. The afternoon is similar but a touch smaller. It’s a "marginal" call again.

After that, things drop away again. The 15th through the 16th see a bit of swell and some clean cross-off winds on the 16th, but the swell is short-period and the energy is moderate. The 16th afternoon has a 8 ft swell from the SSW with a fresh cross-shore wind – that’s a lot of bumpy, lumpy water for experts only. Not much to write home about.

The real outlier in the long-range is the morning of the 20th of August. The swell is 8 ft from the WNW, with a 9-second period and a light cross-shore breeze from the SE. The energy is very strong (822) and the wind is light, so it could be a clean, powerful day. The direction is a bit off the optimum SW, but for a beach and reef setup like Inch Reefs, that west-northwest energy should wrap in nicely. The call is "marginal," but it’s the best-looking window in the whole forecast. Keep an eye on it, but don’t bank on it a week out.

Water temp is sitting at 64°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so you won’t need the thickest rubber.

Bottom line: There’s nothing worth paddling out for until the 12th of August, and even then it’s a game of deciding if the hassle is worth it. The 20th of August has the most potential, but it’s a long way off. If you’re desperate, the 12th–13th is your only shot, and that’s for the experienced crew only.

Rusty.

Read more