Number Fours Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for Number Fours over the next couple of weeks.

Straight up, I gotta be honest with you – it’s a rough stretch. The whole 16-day window is looking pretty grim, with hardly a moment where I’d give it a proper green light. There’s a long, frustrating gap with no real surf to recommend, so don’t go getting your hopes up too high.

From Thursday the 2nd of July through pretty much the entire run, the wind is locked in from the ENE, blowing a solid 18 to 25 mph, sitting in that cross-off position. That’s not going to do us any favours. The wave energy is bouncing around – we start with moderate combined energy around the 517 to 551 mark Thursday and Friday, but the swell is a short-period 5 ft from the ENE, churning up messy, choppy lines. The water’s sitting at a warm 79°, which is about normal for the time of year, so at least you won’t be cold while you’re getting frustrated.

The only real standout, if you can even call it that, is very short-lived. On Saturday the 4th of July, we see a total shift. The swell drops right down to 2 ft, but it swings around to the S and SSW, and the period jumps up to 20 to 21 seconds – that’s proper long-period groundswell energy, and the combined energy hits 865. That’s solid, powerful stuff for the size. The problem is, it’s tiny. For a reef break like Number Fours, that long-period swell can offer some nice, lined-up waves, but you’d need a bigger board and a whole lot of patience. The wind is still a fresh cross-off, so it won’t be glassy clean, but it’s the best looking pulse in the whole forecast. Don’t blink, because by Sunday the 5th of July, the swell direction shifts to SSW, the period drops to 18 seconds, and the combined energy stays high around 781 to 946, but it’s all labelled as poor surf. The long period might make it tricky at this reef.

After that, from Monday the 6th of July right through to Thursday the 16th of July, we’re stuck in a rut. Swell sits at 5 ft to 7 ft, but it’s all short-period ENE windswell, constant 7 to 8 seconds. The combined energy is moderate, between 299 and 827, and the wind never lets up. The wave comment keeps saying “marginal” or “poor surf conditions.” The only slight glimmer is from Monday the 13th to Thursday the 16th of July, where some of the sessions are called “marginal” rather than “poor,” but with that stiff cross-off breeze and short, messy swell, it’s still not a session you’d write home about.

Honestly, if you’re desperate for a paddle, that Saturday the 4th of July is your best, and really only, shout for something with a bit of quality in the water, and even then, it’s a gamble with the size. For the rest, the setup looks more suited to a kite than a surfboard – strong wind, consistent swell, but poor quality for a paddle surfer. I wouldn't be holding my breath until the forecasts change.

Rusty.

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