North Stradbroke - Pt Lookout Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the table for North Stradbroke.

The next couple of weeks are looking pretty grim for a proper paddle, to be honest. We’ve got a real slow start, and while there’s a bit of size later on, the wind is going to be a massive problem. You’ll be waiting a while for a clean, manageable wave.

We kick off on Thursday the 23rd of July, but it’s a non-starter. Pt Lookout has a weak 3ft easterly swell with a short 8-second period, but that cross-on breeze from the NW is just messing it up. The energy is weak (217), and it’s just a bumpy mess. Not worth a look.

Friday the 24th is a write-off for surfing. The swell drops to 3ft, and while the wind is offshore from the SSE, it’s howling at 22 mph. That’s a fresh breeze, clean, but you’d be fighting just to get out. The wave energy is basically nothing (92).

Saturday the 25th gives us a slight glimmer. The morning shows 3ft of easterly swell with a moderate 16 mph offshore wind from the south. It’s clean, but the conditions are just “ordinary”. The energy is moderate (182), but it’s not enough to get excited about. The afternoon goes light cross-off, but it’s still small.

From Sunday the 26th right through to Wednesday the 29th, it’s a flat spell. Swell heights are under 2ft, the energy is below 100, and even when the wind is offshore, there’s simply no power in the water. You’d be bobbing around on a lake.

Thursday the 30th sees a bump in size, but it’s a nasty one. The afternoon brings a 5ft SSE swell, but it’s short period (6 seconds) and the wind is a strong 28 mph cross-off from the SE. The energy is moderate (245), but it’s going to be a big, choppy, blown-out mess.

Friday the 31st and Saturday the 1st of August are more of the same. Strong winds in the 28-31 mph range, with offshore directions, but it’s a near gale. You’ll have clean faces, but paddling out will be a battle. The swell is about 5ft to 5ft, but the energy is climbing (323 to 398). Still, it’s just not fun for a paddle.

Sunday the 2nd of August is the same story: 5ft swell, 28-31 mph offshore winds. Looks better for a kite session than a surf.

Now, the standout – and I mean the only real highlight – lands on Monday the 3rd of August. The morning shows a solid 7ft swell from the SSE, with a 10-second period. The wind is a fresh 22 mph offshore from the south, so it’ll be clean. The combined energy is very strong (1087), which is a serious pulse. This is big, powerful, and lined up. But with 7ft and that period, it’s for the experienced crew only. Beginners, stay on the beach. The afternoon turns into a near gale, so it’s a morning mission.

The second big window is around Thursday the 6th of August. The afternoon brings a massive 12ft SSW groundswell with a very long 13-second period. The energy is through the roof (6456). This is a proper, serious swell. However, the wind is a fresh 19 mph cross-off from the ESE, which will keep it clean but a bit lumpy. At 12ft, this is expert-only territory. It’s a long-period swell, which will be better for the point at Pt Lookout, but it’ll be breaking big and straight on the beach. If you’re an expert on a step-up, this is your window, but it’s a long way out, so keep an eye on the forecasts.

For the best of the best, the call is the morning of Monday the 3rd of August at Pt Lookout. It’s the only day that combines decent size with a clean offshore wind, but it’s a battle for the experienced.

Rusty.

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