Indicators Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, it’s Rusty. I’ve been staring at this forecast for the next couple of weeks, and I’ve got to be honest with you – it’s a frustrating stretch ahead. The conditions are mostly poor, with only a few windows where things might just come together for a paddle. The standout spot to watch here is Indicators, a tricky advanced point break that needs a specific WNW swell to really fire. It’s fairly consistent, but it’s sheltered and picks up a lot of wind, so we need everything to line up.

Let’s start with the early days. Wednesday, August 5th, is a washout – tiny 1ft SW swell at 14 seconds, but with cross-on winds, it’s just poor. Thursday stays flat with onshore wind. Friday the 7th sees a jump in period to 19 seconds, but the swell is still only 1–2ft and the wind is messy. The energy is weak all week, ranging from 142 to 246 (combined swell energy), which is barely a ripple.

The first real glimmer comes on Saturday, August 8th, morning. The swell bumps up to 2ft from the SSW with a period of 18 seconds, and the energy climbs to 409 (moderate). The wind is still onshore, but the forecast calls it “marginal” – not great, but maybe a sneaky session for the dedicated. The water temp is about average for this time of year. Sunday the 9th morning sees a shift: 4ft from the WNW at 10 seconds, with energy at 579 (moderate). The wind is onshore, but that WNW direction is exactly what Indicators needs to work. This is the best on offer in the first week, but the period is short (10 seconds), so the waves will be a bit soft and fat. Still, for a point break, the long-period groundswell from the 15+ second swells earlier in the week are better suited to reefs and points, so this Sunday window might actually produce a few rideable lines.

The second week is a slow grind. From Monday, August 10th, through to Thursday, August 14th, the swell hovers around 4–5ft from the WNW, but the period drops to 8–9 seconds, and the wind is onshore or cross-on. The energy stays moderate (364–532), but the surf quality is consistently poor. It’s a blank run of days with no real recommendations. The weekend of August 16th offers a tiny lift: 3ft from the SSW at 16 seconds, with energy at 578 (moderate) on Saturday morning, but the wind is onshore. The period is long, which is good for wave shape, but it’s a beach break setup, and long-period SSW swells can break too straight on the sand. The water temp is about average.

The final few days, from Monday, August 18th, to Wednesday, August 20th, stay small (2–3ft) with mixed winds. The best chance might be Tuesday, August 18th, morning, with a slight air breeze and 3ft SSW swell at 15 seconds, energy at 425 (moderate). The wind is onshore, but it’s a light breeze, so it could be glassy enough for a few fun ones. But it’s marginal.

Standout session: If you’re going to pick one, make it Sunday, August 9th, morning at Indicators. The 4ft WNW swell, moderate energy (579), and the fact that the direction matches the optimum WNW for the break makes it worth a look. The wind is onshore, but it’s a light breeze, and the point break should handle it better than the beach. It’s not perfect, but it’s the best we’ve got. Crowds? This spot can be “often” busy, so expect company.

Otherwise, the shoreline is quiet. The water temp is about average for August. Keep your expectations low, and maybe the forecasts will change.

– Rusty

Read more