Manly Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it.

The next couple of weeks are a real mixed bag. We’ve got some clean windows where you’ll want to be in the water, but also some proper junky spells where the wind and swell are going to be fighting each other. The start is a bit slow, so let’s be patient. Don't get too worked up about the next day or so; Thursday’s got some size, but the wind is messy and the conditions are only going to be marginal.

Friday morning looks like our first real chance. The swell drops to a more manageable 6ft out of the south, and the breeze swings light out of the SSW, leaving the surf clean. It's not huge, but it’s got a bit of push and the conditions are way better than the day before. Saturday morning is a classic. The wind goes glassy, just about zero out of the WNW, and we’ve still got a solid 4ft of south groundswell with a 12-second period. That’s the pick of the first week—clean, lined up, and the water is a normal 64°F, right where it should be for this time of year. You’ll want to be at Manly (Big Island) for that one before the seabreeze hits.

There’s a lull after that. From Sunday through to Thursday, it’s pretty bleak. The swell fades and the wind goes onshore or just messy. There’ll be small waves but nothing worth getting excited about. You’re better off doing something else.

Now, looking further out, things get interesting. The 19th of September brings a big pulse of south swell, hitting 10ft in the morning, but the wind is cross-onshore and it’s going to be a choppy mess. That one’s for the experts, and even then, it's not going to be pretty. The real standout is on the 25th of September. That morning, we’ve got a proper long-period south groundswell rolling in at 5ft with a 19-second period. Combined energy is 3524, which is strong, and the wind is cross-off but light. That’s a very long period, so it might get a little too straight at the beach breaks, but at a point like Manly, it should be phenomenal. It’s a week and a half away, so don’t book the day off yet, but that one has “best of the fortnight” written all over it. Just be aware, the crowd might be on it.

Before that, the afternoon of the 23rd of September is worth a mention. It’s a fresh SSW blow but cross-off, pushing 12ft of south swell. It’s big, it’s raw, and it’s only going to be for the experienced crew. And on the 24th, the wind is howling out of the south at 25 mph, which is going to make it tricky, but the swell is still solid.

So, to wrap it up: Saturday morning is your go-to for a clean, fun session. The 25th of September is the one to circle on the calendar. Everything else in between is either too small, too windy, or too messy. It’s not a classic run, but there’s enough on the table to keep you hungry.

Rusty.

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