Long Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s break down what we’ve got cookin’ for the next couple of weeks.

We’re staring down a pretty slow start, no two ways about it. The first few days are a total bust, with flat, poor conditions across the board. Don’t bother waxing up until we get into the back half of the week. There’s a real gap here from now until the 30th of July with nothing worth paddling out for.

The action finally kicks off around Thursday morning, the 30th of July. It’s not a bomb, but it’s a start. The swell bumps up to 6ft out of the south, with a 9-second period. The combined energy is moderate (478). The wind is light and cross-off, so it’ll be clean. It’s a beginner-friendly size, so it’s a good one to get the rust off.

Now, get ready for this, because Friday the 31st of July is a real standout. The morning session is where it’s at. We’re looking at 6ft of south swell, with a longer period of 11 seconds, giving it some real punch. The combined energy is strong (818). The wind is a clean cross-off from the southwest. This is proper, lined-up swell for the reef. It’s still manageable for strong intermediates, but the quality is there for the experienced crew.

The weekend keeps the goods coming. Saturday morning, the 1st of August, is another beauty. 5ft of south swell, clean offshore wind from the west, and a solid 10-second period. It’s a classic setup. The afternoon goes glassy, though the swell drops a touch. Sunday the 2nd of August, however, is the best on offer for the whole outlook. The morning brings a solid 6ft of south-southeast groundswell with a very long period of 14 seconds. This is serious energy – the combined energy is very strong (1077). That’s the kind of swell that draws lines down the reef. The wind is light and cross-off, keeping it clean. This is an expert’s wave, so leave the soft-tops at home.

After that roar, the surf fades out fast. The first week of August sees the swell drop and the wind turn onshore. By the 4th and 5th, we’re back to tiny, weak junk. There’s a brief, tiny window on the morning of the 6th with 4ft of short-period swell and glassy conditions, but the period is only 6 seconds, so it’ll be fat and weak. The second week is a real struggle with mostly poor conditions and small, messy waves. The 12th of August shows a bit of a pulse with 3ft of east-northeast swell and an 11-second period, with a fresh offshore wind, but it’s marginal at best.

So, for the best of the bunch, don’t sleep on that Friday morning and Saturday morning, but the absolute standout is Sunday morning, the 2nd of August. That’s the one you circle on the calendar.

Rusty, signing off.

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