Long Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, grab your board. Let’s have a look at what’s cooking out at Long Reef.

It’s gonna be a slow start to this stretch, but there’s some serious potential brewing if you’re willing to wait. The first few days are pretty lackluster, but that’s the price we pay for what’s coming down the line.

Right now, through the end of August and into the first few days of September, we’re looking at a pretty quiet ocean. The swell is small and weak, the energy is down, and it’s just not doing much. You might get a few rippable ones early on, but nothing that will get your heart racing. It’s more of a “check the surf cam from the car” kind of vibe than a “pull over and paddle out” vibe. The water temp is sitting at 63°, which is about normal for this time of year, so no need to dig out the thickest suit just yet.

Keep an eye on the mornings, though. There are a few clean, glassy windows early on, especially on Monday the 31st of August, and again on Tuesday the 1st of September. The swell is small, only around 3 feet, but the wind is light and offshore, so it might be worth a quick session if you’re desperate for a paddle.

Then we hit a dead spell. The swell drops right out from the 2nd through the 6th of September. The energy readings are low, and the waves just fade away. It’s a real flat spell, a proper lull. You might see a knee-high ripple, but honestly, it’s not worth getting wet for. This is the time to do your other life admin.

But then, hold onto your leash, because things are about to get real. On the afternoon of Sunday the 6th, there’s a sudden jolt of energy. The combined energy jumps to a massive 3574, and that's a big jump. The swell height reads a solid 15ft from the south. It’s a raw, powerful pulse, but the wind is cross-onshore, so it’s going to be a messy, churning beast. For a reef setup like Long Reef, this is going to be heavy and probably pretty ugly. Not the one.

The real standout, the one you’ve been waiting for, is the morning of Monday the 7th of September. That’s when the stars align. We’ve got a solid 8ft of south-southeast swell rolling in with a 10-second period. The energy is strong, reading at 1250. But the best part? The wind is cross-offshore from the west-northwest and clean. This is what we’re after. This is a proper, confident swell with clean conditions. This will be the pick of the entire run.

Tuesday the 8th still has some good size, with 7ft of south-east swell in the afternoon and light offshore winds. It’s still very surfable, but the Monday morning peak is the one to plan around. After that, the swell slowly backs off, but it stays inconsistent and a bit jumbled for the rest of the week. We see the size drop, and the winds get a bit more cross-shore, making it harder to find a clean one.

The following week, from the 11th to the 14th, looks more like a mixed bag. It’s much smaller and less organized. There are still some glassy mornings, especially on the 11th and 12th, with some clean surf in the 3ft to 4ft range, but the quality is nowhere near that Monday stand-out. By the 13th and 14th, the swell picks up a little with a short-period easterly windswell, but it’s pretty junky and the tide will be a big factor. It’s more of a “have a look and see” situation, not a “call in sick” situation.

So, to sum it up: the next few days are a write-off. There’s a flat spell in the middle to get through. But if you’re willing to wait, Monday morning on the 7th of September is the one. Big south swell, clean offshore winds, and all that energy. That’s the day you want to be out there. It will be big, so it’s for experienced surfers only. Mark it down.

Rusty.

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