Nobbys Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Hey folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ down at Nobbys Reef. It’s a tricky little reef setup, only for the advanced crew, and you gotta know it’s inconsistent – it doesn’t fire all the time. But when it does, and the wind plays nice, it’s a gem. The water’s sitting at a pretty normal 64°, nothing wild for this time of year.

Kicking off on Friday 28 August morning, we’ve got a clean 6ft SSE swell with a solid 11-second period. That’s a nice groundswell, and with a light 3 mph offshore from the NW, the lineup is looking glassy. The combined energy is moderate at 752 – there’s some push behind it. This is the standout of the whole run. Friday morning is your window. But by the afternoon, the wind swings onshore from the SE at 9 mph and the quality drops fast.

Saturday 29 August is a write-off – cross-on winds and poor conditions all day. Sunday 30 August morning, however, we get a glass-off with an offshore breeze and a small but clean 3ft SE swell. Tiny, but if you’re keen on a longboard and some empty lineups, it’s worth a paddle. Crowds are sometimes here, so you might have it to yourself.

Monday 31 August morning brings another glassy window, 4ft from the S at 8 seconds. That short period means it’s a little weak, but with clean conditions, it’s rideable.

Tuesday 1 September morning is clean again, 3ft S swell with a moderate offshore. It’s small but workable. Wednesday 2 September drops off to 2ft and then 2ft – ordinary but clean. From Wednesday 3 September onward, the swell dies right down, staying below 2ft for days. There’s a long flat spell from Wednesday through to the following Sunday 7 September.

Then on Monday 7 September morning, we see a jump to 6ft from the S, 11-second period, but with a fresh 19 mph cross-off wind. It’s big, messy, and for an exposed reef like this, it’s going to be a battle. The combined energy hits 666 (moderate), but the wind spoils it.

Tuesday 8 September is a big one. The morning shows a massive 10ft SSE groundswell with a very long 14-second period – that’s a proper long-range groundswell. The combined energy is strong at 3288. However, for Nobbys Reef, this is far too big. It’s expert-only territory, and even then, the swell direction and size are likely to make it a washing machine. Best left to the brave or the crazy.

Wednesday 9 September stays big, 7ft S swell, but with rain and cross-on winds, it’s not clean. The rest of the week drops in size but stays lumpy with onshore winds.

Honestly, the best session in this whole 16-day window is Friday 28 August morning – clean, solid 6ft, glassy offshore. That’s the one. After that, you’re chasing small glassy windows or dealing with big, messy conditions. The surf forecast is poor for long stretches, which is normal for this inconsistent spot.

Stay sharp, keep an eye on the sky, and don’t be afraid to sit it out.

Rusty.

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