Mousetraps Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Gather round, crew. Let’s talk about the next few weeks at Mousetraps. This is a reef setup, advanced only, and it’s about to get real. We’ve got a solid run of surf on the radar, but the timing and the wind are going to make or break it.

The opening salvos, starting Monday the 7th of September, are a proper wake-up call. We’re looking at an 12ft SW groundswell with a very long 16-second period. That’s a serious amount of energy moving through – the combined energy is pushing 6307 (moderate wave energy). The morning kicks off with a cross-off SE breeze at 9 mph, keeping the face clean for those who can handle it. Water temp is sitting at 65°, which is about normal for this time of year. This is an expert-only zone on the best of days, but Monday morning is the standout of the entire first week. It is exceptional. Tuesday the 8th keeps the fire burning, but the wind swings offshore from the ESE at 16 mph in the morning, with a 13ft WSW swell and combined energy of 7820 (moderate wave energy). That’s even more power. Both Tuesday sessions are top-tier. Wednesday the 9th sees the size drop to 10ft, but a fresh breeze makes it a bit messier, so the window tightens.

Thursday afternoon the 10th is a sneaky, beautiful moment. The swell drops to a more manageable 6ft from the WSW, but you get glassy conditions with a WSW breeze at just 3 mph. Combined energy is 1799 (still moderate wave energy), and the quality is excellent for experienced surfers. That’s a very clean, approachable window if you can paddle out.

Friday the 11th has a very interesting pulse: a 5ft swell with a 19-second period from the WSW. That’s a very long period groundswell. Combined energy is 3218 (moderate wave energy). At a reef like this, that long period will wrap in beautifully and the sets will be clean, but expect longer lulls between them. The morning cross-off wind helps.

Then the wheels come off for a while. Saturday the 12th through Sunday the 13th is a write-off. Onshore winds, rain showers, and building swell up to 12ft. It’s ugly. Monday the 14th and Tuesday the 15th have clean windows again, with a 10ft and 8ft swell, but the wind can be tricky - glassy moments on Tuesday morning with a S breeze at 3 mph. Quality is there for the brave.

The period from Wednesday the 16th of September onward goes big and gets blown out. Swell size jumps to 16ft to 18ft with combined energy readings of 8423, 9984, 13,750, and even hits 16437 (all strong to very strong wave energy). That is a massive amount of water moving. But the wind is cross-onshore and fresh to strong, making it messy and dangerous. This is not paddle surfing anymore – this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. There’s a glimmer on Sunday the 20th of September morning with a 15ft SW swell and combined energy of 9504 (very strong), but it’s cross-onshore. The afternoon and Monday the 21st see the swell hold at 15ft to 16ft and the energy skyrockets to 16,437 and 17,664 (very strong) – that’s the biggest energy of the entire window. But the files say the swell is predicted to be too big for this break, even for experts. Later in the week, on the 22nd, it’s still big and lumpy.

Bottom line: the absolute best on offer is Monday morning the 7th and Tuesday the 8th. That’s the clean, powerful, long-period groundswell with favourable wind. After that, pick your windows carefully, because the big stuff coming in the second week is a beast with bad wind. Stay safe.

Rusty

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