North Stradbroke - Pt Lookout Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, and I’ve got a look at what’s coming up for our patch. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, with a rocky start and a glimmer of something better later on.

Right now, the surf is not really on the menu. We’ve got a gap of a few days where nothing’s worth paddling out for. The first real sniff of a wave comes on Thursday 10 July, but it’s a bit of a tease. Point Lookout (North Stradbroke) is the spot we’re watching. It’s a consistent point break, fairly exposed to the east, and the optimal swell direction is from the east.

Thursday morning, we’ve got a 7ft swell from the SSE at 10 seconds, with a solid offshore wind from the SSE at 22 mph. The wave energy is pumping at 1310, but the forecast calls it marginal, with questionable tide conditions. It’s clean, but not quite right. The water’s sitting at 71°, which is about average for this time of year, nothing unusual there.

Friday 11 July morning is the one little standout. The sky clears, and we get a light offshore from the SSW at 6 mph, with a 3ft swell from the SE at 10 seconds. The wave energy is weak at 238, and it’s described as “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” It’s not going to blow your mind, but it’s clean and the crowds are only sometimes an issue, so you might get a few fun ones without the hassle.

After that, things drop off hard. From Saturday 12 July right through to Thursday 17 July, the swell is tiny, mostly under 2ft, and the wind is all over the shop. The wave energy is pathetic, with numbers like 23, 11, 12. It’s basically a flat spell. The whole string of days is a write-off.

Then we get a bit of a pulse towards the end of the window. Saturday 18 July sees a 6ft swell from the SE at 14 seconds, a very long period groundswell. The energy is serious at 1406, but it’s coming with a strong cross-off wind from the SE at 28 mph. The report says “poor surf conditions,” so while there’s size, the wind is going to mess it up. This is more for the experts, and the long period will make it break a bit straight at the beach, so a point like this might be the only hope.

Sunday 19 July is marginal, with the same 4ft, 14-second swell but still cross-off winds. The real standout in the whole outlook is Monday 20 July. The morning sees a 5ft swell from the SE at 13 seconds, with a clean offshore from the S at 12 mph. The energy is 966, and the forecast says “expect very good surf conditions.” This is the best on offer. The offshore wind will keep it glassy, and the swell direction is close to the optimum east. It’s a solid intermediate level, not too big for a confident surfer, and the crowds are sometimes around, so get on it early. That afternoon stays good with a 5ft swell and light winds.

The last few days of the window, from Tuesday 22 July onward, fade back to small, weak surf, with tiny 1ft to 2ft swells and nothing to get excited about. The best bet is Monday 20 July morning—don’t miss it.

Rusty.

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