Nine Mile Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it. We’re looking at a single spot for the next 16 days, and it’s a bit of a mixed bag with a lot of waiting.

The only game in town is Nine Mile Reef, a reef break that's a solid beginner option but it's a fickle lady. The whole forecast period starts off with a bit of a whimper. The first few days have some swell, but the conditions are just not right. The wind is messy, the swell is short-period, and the energy is all over the place. It's not a total washout, but you won't be racing to get in the water.

For the first few days, we’ve got nothing to write home about. Saturday the 11th sees a 6ft S swell, but with a cross-on wind and a combined energy of 1232, it’s just a choppy mess. The water is sitting at 59°, which is about normal for this time of year. Sunday the 12th is a bit smaller, but the wind is still cross-shore, and the period drops to a weak 7 seconds. The energy is still moderate at 800. Just not surfable.

Monday the 13th and Tuesday the 14th are tiny, with waves barely reaching 2ft. The energy is weak (86-157), so it’s more of a paddle session than a surf. The water is still average temp.

Then we get a glimmer. Wednesday the 15th morning sees a glassy 2ft swell from the SW, but with a period of 16 seconds! That’s a very long period groundswell, and the energy is moderate at 257. It’s a sneaky little window of clean, glassy conditions, but the swell is tiny. The afternoon picks up to 7ft from the same direction, but the wind shifts onshore, turning it into a messy closeout.

Here’s the real standout. Thursday the 16th is the pick of the first week. The morning has a 6ft SW swell, a 14-second period, and glassy conditions. The energy is strong at 1167. The wind is light and offshore, so it'll be clean. This is excellent for experienced surfers. The afternoon is also glassy with a 5ft SW swell, but the energy drops a bit to 821. This is a legit window of solid, clean surf. The reef works best with a SSE direction, so this SW swell isn't perfect, but the quality of the conditions will make up for it.

Friday the 17th gets blown out with a strong 12 mph cross-on wind, making the 7ft to 8ft swell a choppy mess. The energy is high (1534-1926), but it's not worth it for a paddle. Honestly, this setup looks a lot more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

Saturday the 18th has a clean morning with a 5ft SW swell and a 14-second period, but the energy is huge at 1785. The afternoon is a total no-go: an 8ft SE swell with glassy conditions, but it’s just too big for this reef. The energy is massive at 3264. This is expert-only territory, and even then, it’s a big risk.

The following week (starting Sunday the 19th) calms right down. The swell drops to 3ft or less, and the energy is low (242-380). There are some clean windows with offshore winds, but the waves are small. It’s a rest week.

Then, on Wednesday the 22nd of July, we get another big one. An 8ft SW swell with a 14-second period and a gentle offshore wind. The energy is a massive 2670. This is again too big for the break, but the conditions are clean. Thursday the 23rd morning is glassy with a 6ft SW swell and energy of 1112. This is finally a good size for the reef and the conditions are perfect. This is a solid, clean morning.

The final days (24th to 26th) get messy again. Big swell (7ft to 10ft) with onshore winds and huge energy (1639 to 4784). It’s just too much.

So, the bottom line: Thursday the 16th is your best bet. It’s a solid, clean day with powerful, glassy surf. The only other real window is Thursday the 23rd morning, which is also glassy and a better size for the reef. The rest is either too small, too windy, or too big. Don't bother with the big days unless you're an expert looking for a challenge and don't mind the risk.

Rusty, signing off.

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