Long Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s look at what’s on the cards for Long Reef.

We’ve got a slow start, but the waiting game pays off. The first few days of this run are a write-off, with Thursday 24th of July and Friday 25th offering nothing really worth paddling out for. The swell is there, around 6ft to 6ft from the south, but the wind and tide just aren’t lining up. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The real action kicks off on Saturday morning, the 25th of July. That’s your first genuine window. We’ve got a clean 6ft S swell with a solid 11-second period, and the wind is offshore from the west. The combined energy is moderate (701), and it’s going to be a clean, glassy morning. Sunday morning, the 26th of July, looks even better – similar 6ft S swell, still offshore from the WSW, and the energy is up a bit (749). This is a very good stretch of surf. The period is long enough to give proper shape, so expect some grunty lines off the reef. Long Reef is an exposed reef, so it handles a south swell well. Expect crowds here, as it’s a known spot.

Now, Monday morning the 27th of July has a smaller but clean 4ft S swell with offshore wind, nice for a longboard or a fun log if you’re just keen to get wet. The energy drops right off from Tuesday onwards, with tiny waves and poor conditions for the rest of the week. There’s a long gap there with no real recommendations.

But hold onto your leash, because we’ve got a standout coming up. Look at the 6th of August, Thursday morning. The swell kicks up to 8ft from the SSE, period is 8 seconds, and the wind is glassy. The combined energy is strong (860), and it’s described as “very good surf conditions.” This is the pick of the bunch. That’s a solid, powerful swell, and with glassy conditions, it’s going to be clean. The swell direction is a little off the optimum, but the quality of the forecast makes up for it. This is one for the experienced crew – 8ft on a reef is no joke, it’s for experts only.

Then, the real monster shows up. On Saturday morning, the 8th of August, we’re looking at a massive 13ft swell from the ENE with a 12-second period. The combined energy is a whopping 4724, which is very strong. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers only. The wind is a gentle offshore from the north, keeping it clean. This is a very long-range call, so it’s promising but not set in stone, but if it hits, it’ll be a day to remember. The period is long enough to give serious power, but at a beach break it might be a bit straight; the reef at Long Reef will handle it beautifully.

Stay safe, and don’t be a hero if you’re not ready for it.

Rusty.

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