Long Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s cooking at Long Reef. It’s been a bit flat and messy lately, but don’t tune out – there’s some serious firepower on the way.

The pattern starts off pretty grim. Monday the 27th into Tuesday the 29th is a write-off. We’re looking at a few days of tiny, weak swell with poor energy levels. The water temp is sitting right around 65°, which is bang on normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.

Then, Thursday the 30th. That’s the day. The whole windows opens up. We’ve got a solid 7 ft southerly swell rolling in, and the combined energy is pumping hard at 1123. That’s a proper pulse. The wind is a clean cross-offshore from the west-southwest, and the setup is looking clean. This is excellent for experienced surfers. The period is a solid 9 seconds, so it’s got some push, but it’s not a drawn-out groundswell, so it should hold its shape well on the reef.

Friday morning the 31st keeps the quality high. Another 7 ft from the south, with even more energy at 1416, and the wind stays clean cross-off. This is just as good as Thursday morning. The afternoon gets a bit choppy with a cross-shore wind, but the mornings are where it’s at.

Saturday the 1st of August is a great option for the weekend warrior. Swell drops to a fun 4 ft, but the wind goes glassy in the afternoon from the south-southeast. That’s a stunning, clean afternoon session. The energy is still moderate at 382, so it’s not a full-on bomb, but it’ll be a lovely, rippable wave.

Come Sunday the 2nd, the swell gets a bit longer period, pushing 12 seconds from the south-southeast, with 5 ft of wave height and energy at 609. The morning is clean with a light cross-off breeze. This is a very good window for Long Reef, though the longer period can make it a bit more lined up and better for the reef’s shape.

The next week, from the 5th of August, the consistency drops. You’ll see a few mornings with a bump in swell, like Wednesday the 5th with a 6 ft, but the period is a short, weak 6 seconds, and the winds are good one minute, terrible the next. Saturday the 8th shows a 7 ft southeasterly swell in the morning, but the wind is cross-shore, so it’ll be a bit lumpy. It’s a case of pick your window carefully.

Overall, the standout is hands down Thursday the 30th and Friday the 31st of July. Those mornings are the best surf on offer in the whole 16-day window. The crowds are listed as “sometimes,” so you could get lucky and find a quiet lineup, but be ready for a few other heads out. The reef is exposed to the south, and that’s where the juice is coming from. If you’re an experienced surfer, mark your calendar.

Rusty

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