Mooloolaba Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what Mooloolaba’s got cookin’ for the next couple of weeks.

Look, I won't lie to you, the first week is a bit of a grind. We’ve got a bit of a slow start, but don't click off just yet because there’s some real potential hiding in the second week. The water temp is sitting around 69°, which is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The week kicks off on Tuesday the 4th with tiny, weak 2ft easterly slop and a cross-onshore breeze. The combined energy is a measly 84, so it’s really just wind ripples. Not worth your time. Wednesday the 5th morning is the first flicker of hope – a glassy 3ft E swell that’s a bit weak (170 energy). It’s surfable, but very ordinary. The rest of that week is a mix of small, messy surf and cross-off winds. The crowds are *often* around here, so if you’re paddling out on those tiny days, you’ll be bumping into folks.

Thursday the 6th morning sees a clean 3ft wave with an offshore SSW wind, but the energy is only 100. It’s clean, but weak. Saturday the 8th is cleaner but still small. Then Sunday the 9th morning is where we finally get some pulse – 4ft of E swell with a 9-second period and a clean cross-off breeze. The combined energy jumps to 313 (moderate). That’s the best of the first week, and the file calls it "good surf conditions". It’s not a world-beater, but it’s a solid morning session.

Now, after the 9th, it drops back into ordinary territory for a few days. There’s a solid gap of small, average conditions from Monday the 10th through Thursday the 13th. Clean, but small and weak.

But hold onto your board, because Friday the 14th morning is where things get interesting. We’ve got 6ft of SE swell with an 11-second period, and the combined energy is a thumping 800 (strong wave energy). The wind is a clean cross-off. That’s a proper groundswell. The afternoon sees the swell hit 6ft, though the period drops to 6 seconds, making it a bit junky. The morning is the standout.

Saturday the 15th and Sunday the 16th are blown out by strong SE winds (16 mph), so the surf will be lumpy and hard to manage. The swell hangs around 5ft to 7ft, but with that wind, it’s a mess. This setup at Mooloolaba, a beach and reef, might actually be more interesting for kite surfing than a paddle session on those days.

The real gem, the one you’ve been waiting for, is Wednesday the 19th. The morning is absolutely magic. We’re looking at 6ft of SE swell, an 8-second period, and a clean 9 mph offshore S wind. The combined energy screams at 757 (strong wave energy). The report says "expect very good surf conditions." That is your standout session. The afternoon holds 7ft of SE swell, but the wind shifts cross-off, so it’s still clean and fun, just a touch bigger. For a beginner, 6ft is getting a bit chunky, and by 7ft it’s more for the guys who know what they’re doing. The long period (11 seconds) on the 14th is better for the points and reefs, but the 19th with that offshore wind is the better all-round package.

So, to sum it up: the first week is a slow burner with a decent morning on the 9th. The second week has a promising groundswell on the 14th, but the absolute winner is the clean, offshore morning on Wednesday the 19th. Get that one marked in the calendar.

Rusty, signing off.

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