Long Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. It’s been a bit of a slow start, but the next couple of weeks have some real gems if you’re patient. The first proper surf won’t show up until Monday morning, the 20th of July, so we’ve got a quiet Sunday to sit through. After that, there’s a solid run of options, with a couple of standouts that’ll have you calling in sick.

Let’s start with Long Reef, a reef setup that’s fairly consistent and exposed. The water is sitting at about 65°F, which is pretty much spot on for this time of year – no complaints there.

The first real action kicks off Monday morning, the 20th of July. It’s clean and clear, with a 6ft swell from the ENE, a long 11-second period, and a light offshore breeze from the WNW at 3 mph. The wave energy is moderate (1016), and it’s going to be glassy perfection. This is a great session for the experienced crew – the long period means the waves will have some punch, and the offshore wind will keep them lined up.

Monday afternoon sees a drop in quality – the wind swings NE and picks up to 9 mph, turning it cross-onshore and choppy, so I’d be off the water by then.

Tuesday morning, the 21st, is still surfable with a 5ft ENE swell (10-second period), but a cross-shore wind from the north at 6 mph means it’s not the best. The energy drops to 517, and it’s just so-so.

Wednesday morning, the 22nd of July, is a nice little window. The swell drops to 4ft, ENE, but it’s clean with a 9 mph offshore breeze from the west. The energy is weak (254), but it’s a fun, small day for a longboard.

Thursday morning, the 23rd, is tiny – 3ft and 110 energy – with a moderate offshore wind. It’s surfable, but nothing to get excited about.

Then we hit the first real standout. Friday afternoon, the 24th of July. The swell shifts to the south at 5ft with a 11-second period, and the wind goes glassy calm from the WNW at 3 mph. The energy is moderate (580), and this is one of the best sessions on offer – clean, glassy, and the south swell will wrap in nicely. For the more experienced, this is a must.

Saturday morning, the 25th, has a 4ft S swell with a 12-second period and a gentle offshore from the west. It’s clean, but not as punchy as Friday.

Sunday morning, the 26th of July, sees a bigger jump – 7ft from the south at 11 seconds, but the energy is strong (1626). The wind is a cross-offshore from the SSW at 12 mph, so it’ll be clean, but that’s a bit of size for the reef. This is one for experts only, as it’s over 5ft and pushing into the too-big-for-beginners zone. The long period means it’ll be a bit walled up, but the reef will handle it.

The next week gets interesting. Monday the 27th is a drop-off.

The real standout is Saturday, the 1st of August. The swell is 10ft from the south at 10 seconds, with a strong energy of 1731. It’s a big, powerful swell, and the wind is a cross-offshore from the WSW at 9 mph in the morning, keeping it clean. This is for experts only – 10ft is well over the 8ft threshold, and it’s going to be heavy. The crowd might be around, as it’s sometimes busy, but on a day like this, it’ll be the experienced locals out.

Sunday morning, the 2nd of August, is another big one – 8ft from the south at 11 seconds, with a cross-offshore from the NW at 6 mph. Energy is strong (1752), and it’s clean. Another expert-only session, with the long period making it a bit tricky for the beachies, but the reef will have some solid tubes.

After that, Monday the 3rd of August has a 7ft SSE swell, but the wind is a fresh 22 mph from the SSW, making it messy and marginal. The energy drops to 986, and it’s not worth the hassle.

So, to wrap it up: the best on offer is Friday afternoon, the 24th of July – glassy, clean, and a solid 5ft south swell. The other standout is Saturday morning, the 1st of August for the big-wave hunters, with 10ft and clean conditions, but that’s a week and a half away, so keep an eye on it.

The gaps are there – Sunday the 19th is flat, and there are a few weak days, but overall, there’s plenty to chase.

Rusty.

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