Long Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, let’s talk about what’s on the menu for your local stretch.

We’re looking at Long Reef, a solid reef break that’s fairly consistent but nothing here is screaming “epic week.” The setup is pretty dialed for a SE swell, which is what we’re mostly seeing, so that’s a plus. But honestly, the first few days are a bit of a tease. There’s a heap of weak, small surf and some challenging wind conditions, so you’ll be waiting a bit for the good stuff.

Let’s run through it. Saturday the 8th is a non-starter; you’ve got a tiny 2ft S swell, short 8-second period, and the combined energy is a weak 107. It’s clean in the morning with a light offshore, but the wave quality is just too ordinary. The water temp is sitting at 63°F, which is about 1°F cooler than usual for this time of year - nothing crazy, just a little below average.

Sunday the 9th is a write-off, with a messy cross-shore wind and poor conditions. Monday the 10th looks like a bit of a wild card. The swell jumps to 7ft from the ENE with a 9-second period, and the combined energy is a solid 769 (moderate energy). But the wind is howling cross-off at 22 mph, which is going to rip the face off it. That’s getting into the territory where it’s too big for beginners and the wind is a problem. It might be more interesting for the kite crew than us paddle guys.

Tuesday the 11th is a better bet. The swell drops back to 3ft from the ENE, still a bit short at 9 seconds, but the wind swings to a clean offshore (WNW, 9 mph) in the morning. The combined energy is weak (124), so it’s not going to be powerful, but it’ll be clean and surfable. It’s a small-wave day for the logs or a fish.

Thursday the 13th sees a pulse of 6ft S swell, but it’s a short 8-second period and the wind is mostly cross-off or onshore, so it’s going to be messy. The following Friday the 14th is where we start to see something. The morning has a 4ft S swell with a better 10-second period, light WSW cross-off wind, and the combined energy is 342 (moderate). It’s clean, and the wave comment says “good surf conditions.” That’s the standout for the first week. The afternoon gets a bit lumpy with a cross-onshore wind, so get it early.

The best on offer: Friday morning, August 14th. That’s the one to pencil in. A solid 4ft S swell, nice 10-second period, light offshore wind, and clean conditions. Long Reef (a reef break) handles a long-period S swell well, so expect some decent shape and longer lulls between sets. It’s not a massive day, but it’s the cleanest and most surfable window in the first week.

After that, Saturday the 15th is a mess with onshore stormy weather, and Sunday the 16th is small and a bit messy. From Monday the 17th onwards, it’s a long run of poor conditions. The forecast dries up, with tiny swells, onshore winds, and very weak combined energy (often under 100). The swell is just too small and the wind is wrong. There’s a gap of several days with no real recommendations after the 14th. The second week is a bust, with nothing worth chasing.

To sum it up: Don’t hold your breath for the next 16 days. Friday morning the 14th is your one decent shot at something clean and fun. The rest is either too small, too windy, or too messy. It’s a quiet period for Long Reef, but that’s how it goes sometimes.

Rusty.

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