Monabe Rivermouth Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty.

Well, it’s a bit of a slow start around here. The next few days are pretty flat with small, weak swells and poor conditions. There’s nothing worth paddling out for until Tuesday the 1st of September, but even then it’s only marginal. We’ve got a solid run of bigger energy coming through later, but you’ll need to pick your windows carefully.

Let’s start with Monabe Rivermouth, this is the only spot on the radar. Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th of August are tiny – like 1ft to 1ft of easterly swell with weak energy, and the wind is cross-on or glassy but the surf is just too small. Monday is more of the same.

The first real pulse shows up Tuesday morning the 1st of September – a 3ft southerly groundswell at 9 seconds, energy jumps to moderate, and it’s glassy early. The comment says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions,” so it’s not a standout. By Tuesday afternoon the wind swings cross-on and it gets choppy.

Wednesday the 2nd brings a bit more size (5ft) but the wind is messy and cross-on, and energy is up but the quality is poor.

The first genuine highlight comes on Thursday the 3rd of September, early morning. We’ve got a 8ft south-southeast swell, period 11 seconds – that’s a decent groundswell. Combined wave energy is strong, and it’s glassy with offshore wind from the east-southeast. The comment says “expect good surf conditions.” This is solid for experienced surfers but at 8ft it’s getting too big for beginners. The swell direction (SSE) isn’t perfect for this east-facing rivermouth, but clean glassy conditions will help. It’s a short window – by afternoon it’s 10ft with a moderate cross-onshore breeze and choppy.

Then there’s a lull through Friday and Saturday with dropping size and poor winds.

Now, the big one – Sunday the 6th of September morning. We’re talking 13ft of easterly swell, period 10 seconds, and combined wave energy is very strong. The wind is light cross-offshore from the east-northeast, and it’s clean. The comment says “expect very good surf conditions.” This is for experienced surfers only – 13ft is heavy. The optimum swell direction for this break is east, and that’s exactly what we’ve got. This is the standout session of the forecast for experts. Crowds are listed as “sometimes,” so you might have company but it won’t be packed.

The next morning, Monday the 7th of September, tops it. 21ft of east-southeast swell at 12 seconds – very long period groundswell. Combined energy is massive. Glassy with light northeast wind. The comment says “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” This is huge, straight-up serious. At a rivermouth, that long-period energy will line up nicely, but it’s going to be heavy and intimidating. Only for proper experienced surfers. The afternoon drops to 15ft but gets a light cross-onshore.

Tuesday the 8th still has 12ft to 10ft of southeast groundswell. Tuesday afternoon is glassy and calls it “expect very good surf conditions.” Good clean waves for experienced crew.

Wednesday the 9th morning is also glassy with 10ft, 11-second period, and saying “expect very good surf conditions.” That’s another nice window before the wind turns cross-on later.

The second week fades a bit. Thursday the 10th has 6ft glassy but only “surfable but ordinary.” By Friday the 11th it’s back to poor and small. But then Sunday the 13th of September delivers again – 16ft east-southeast swell, period 12 seconds, energy massive, glassy calm. It says “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” That’s a big, clean groundswell for the experts. Afternoon has the same 16ft but onshore wind, so morning is the go.

Water temperature at this break is 86°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year – that’s nice.

Overall, the standout is Sunday morning the 6th of September for experienced surfers – 13ft easterly swell, clean cross-offshore wind, and the right direction. Monday the 7th morning is even bigger at 21ft but that’s for the brave. For anyone else, the glassy windows on the 3rd and 9th of September mornings offer good, manageable waves.

Stay safe out there.

Rusty

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