Inch Reefs Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. This is a tough one to write, so I’ll be straight with you.

Look, right now through the next couple of weeks, we’re mostly staring at a whole lot of nothing good. This stretch is gonna be a real test of patience. There’s a massive gap at the start with no worthwhile surf on offer. The first real shot we get doesn’t come until Monday the 7th of September, and even then, it’s a tricky one.

For the first few days, it’s just onshore slop and junk. Sunday the 6th has a 8ft SSW swell but with a strong 19 mph cross-on wind, making it a complete write-off. Not worth paddling for.

The one standout, and I mean the only real highlight in the whole 16 days, is Monday morning, the 7th of September at Inch Reefs. Now, this is a serious call, because the swell is predicted to be a solid 10ft from the WSW with a 12-second period – that’s proper groundswell energy, with a combined energy of 2201. That’s a lot of power. The wind is forecast to be 12 mph and *onshore* from the SW, which would usually kill it, but for this particular break, the guidance says it might just work. It’s an exposed point break, so it can handle a bit of wind, and that long-period swell will wrap in nicely. That said, at 10ft, this is expert territory only. Beginners, stay well away. This is for experienced crew who know the reef.

The water temperature is sitting at 63°, which is a touch warmer than normal for the time of year, but nothing wild.

After that Monday morning window, it all falls apart. Tuesday the 8th through to the end of the period is a grim run. We get pulses of 7ft to 8ft swell, but the wind is constantly cross-on or cross-shore, often strong, with gusts up to 28 mph. Conditions will be lumpy, choppy, and messy. The energy values fluctuate, but the quality is never there. For example, the 14th of September has a 8ft W swell with a 12-second period, but a 19 mph cross-on wind ruins it. It’s a beach and reef setup, so honestly, with that much wind and swell, this looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

The second week is just more of the same – consistent swell heights around 3ft to 8ft, but always with bad wind. By the 20th and 21st of September, the swell drops right off to tiny 0.3ft to 2ft with no energy.

So to sum it up: if you’re an expert and you can handle some wind, set your alarm for Monday morning the 7th. That’s your one and only window. After that, it’s a long, frustrating wait.

Rusty.

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