Nobbys Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Imperial version

Alright, I’m Rusty, and I’ve been staring at the charts for a while now. Honestly, it’s a bit of a slow start. We’ve got some small days ahead, but there’s a proper pulse building if you’ve got the patience for it.

The first real chance to get wet comes on Monday afternoon, July 27th, but it’s a bit of a write-off. We’ve got a weak 3ft south swell at a short 9 seconds, but the wind is cross-on from the east at 15 km/h. The combined energy is only 173 – it’s weak, and the surface is choppy. Not worth paddling out for.

Tuesday, July 28th is a different story for the early. The wind swings offshore from the northwest at 15 km/h, and the morning is clean. The swell drops to 2ft but it’s from the south, and the combined energy is a low 69. It’s small, but with that glassy offshore wind, it’s surfable. The afternoon fades to 1ft and 33 energy – not much there.

From Wednesday through to Thursday morning, the swell is virtually non-existent. Then on Thursday, July 30th the morning kicks off. The swell jumps to 5ft from the south with a 10-second period, and the combined energy hits 396 – moderate now. The wind is light and cross-off from the west at 10 km/h, so it’s clean. The water temperature is 65°, which is about average for the time of year (anomaly of -0.7°). That Thursday morning window is the first real highlight.

Friday, August 1st morning sees a 5ft south swell with 10-second period and 484 energy, but it’s a bit messy with cross-shore winds. The afternoon gets worse – cross-on from the south at 15 km/h. Saturday is similar, marginal.

Then we get a proper moment. Sunday, August 2nd. The morning is clean with a light offshore from the north-northwest at 10 km/h, with a 4ft south-southeast swell and 461 energy. The afternoon is the standout: a 4ft south-southeast swell with a 12-second period, light north winds, and the combined energy jumps to 513. Clean, good energy, and the longer period means the waves will have shape. This is the best on offer in the first week.

Monday the 3rd and Tuesday the 4th are poor with onshore winds. But then Wednesday, August 5th morning has a tiny 2ft south-southeast swell with a 12-second period, but it’s glassy – wind from the south-southwest at 5 km/h. The energy is 120. It’s small, but if you’re desperate, it’d be clean.

The real fire comes in the second week. Saturday, August 8th morning is a standout: 6ft from the southeast with a 9-second period, clean cross-off winds from the north-northwest at 10 km/h, and the combined energy is 697 – strong. That’s a proper session. The afternoon gets messy with cross-on winds, but that morning is a beast.

Sunday, August 9th morning is nearly as good: 6ft from the southeast, 10-second period, cross-off from the north-northwest, and 713 energy. Clean and powerful. That’s the other standout.

Now, if you’re looking at Nobbys Reef, it’s an advanced reef break that’s inconsistent and exposed to south swells. It can get crowded sometimes. With a longer period swell like the 12-second one on August 2nd, it’s a reef, so it’ll handle it well. But when it’s over 5ft, like on the 8th, it’s getting into expert territory. The 6ft on the 8th is solid, but it’s a 9-second period, so it’s a bit shorter – still good for a reef.

The gap? From the start up to Thursday morning, it’s pretty quiet. Then again from the 3rd to the 5th it’s poor. The real reward is the 2nd, 8th, and 9th.

Stay patient, get the mornings.

Rusty.

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