Little Austi and Main Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Well, mate, I’ve been staring at Little Austi and Main Beach for the next couple of weeks, and I gotta be straight with you – it’s a tough stretch. The first week is pretty much a write-off, with barely a ripple and mostly ordinary conditions. The water temp is sitting at 64°, which is bang on average for this time of year, so at least the water’s not gonna shock you.

The whole run kicks off with a frustrating gap. From Monday the 31st of August right through to the 13th of September, there’s genuinely nothing worth paddling out for. You’re looking at tiny 1.0ft to 3ft waves, mostly from the ENE, with super short periods or weak energy. The combined swell energy is pathetic – barely scraping 17 (weak) to a measly 78 (still weak) on the 8th of September morning. Winds are mostly offshore or cross-off, which would normally be a treat, but there’s just no swell to work with. One afternoon on the 8th of September sees a bump to 5ft from the NE, but the period is a short 5 seconds and the wind goes cross-off, moderate breeze – still only a “poor” call. That one’s not worth getting excited about.

Then things get messy. From the 9th of September morning through to the 13th of September afternoon, the wind swings hard onshore from the south, howling at 28 mph to 31 mph, with rain showers and moderate rain. The swell does pick up – 4ft to 10ft – but with that onshore wind, it’s blown-out, choppy, and lumpy. The combined energy climbs into the hundreds and even hits 1371 (very strong) on the 12th of September afternoon, but with that wind, it’s a kite surfer’s dream, not a paddle surfer’s. The break is a beach and reef setup, so without clean conditions, it’s just a mess.

Finally, there’s a glimmer. On Monday the 14th of September morning, we get a light offshore breeze from the north, clean conditions, and a small 4ft swell from the SSE with an 8-second period. The combined energy is 333 (moderate), and the forecast says “expect good surf conditions.” That’s the only standout in the whole 16 days. It’s small, but for a beach and reef break that’s exposed to the ENE, getting a clean, offshore morning with a little bit of push is about as good as it’s gonna get. This one’s for the patient surfer who doesn’t mind small waves and clean faces. The rest of the window is either flat, blown-out, or just plain ordinary.

So, my honest take: don’t hold your breath for the first week. The 14th of September morning is your best bet – keep an eye on it, but it’s a long way out, so don’t book the day off just yet. Otherwise, the forecast is pretty grim for Little Austi and Main Beach.

Rusty.

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