Red Strand (Dirk Bay) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – this outlook for Red Strand (Dirk Bay) is a tough one. It’s a sheltered reef setup that’s fairly consistent, but the next couple of weeks offer barely a ripple. Don’t get your hopes up.

Looking at the broader pattern, we’ve got a long, flat run ahead. For the first week, from Sunday the 5th of July all the way through to Saturday the 11th of July, it’s virtually nothing but tiny, poor surf. Swell heights hang around 0.3ft to 0.7ft, with weak combined energy mostly under 30 (just 8 to 32 units). Winds are often cross-on or cross, leaving the surface choppy or messy. A brief window on Thursday morning the 9th shows clean conditions with a light cross-off breeze, but still only 0.3ft of swell – not worth the board bag.

We get a slight pulse from Sunday the 12th onward. Sunday the 12th morning sees a bit more life – 0.7ft swell from the SSW with a long period of 16 seconds, and combined energy creeping up to 43. The wind is cross-off and clean, but the size is still tiny. By Sunday afternoon, the period stretches to 21 seconds, energy hits 51, but it’s still 0.7ft. You’d be scratching for something to ride.

The best of the entire outlook falls on Monday the 13th of July, specifically the afternoon. Swell picks up to 1ft from the SSW, with a long period of 19 seconds and combined energy hitting 106 – the strongest we see. Winds are cross-off from the ENE at a fresh 35 km/h, keeping it clean. For a sheltered reef like Red Strand, that long-period groundswell can wrap in and offer something, but it’s still only a knee-high wave at best. Beginners might find it manageable, but don’t expect a proper session.

Tuesday the 14th afternoon gives a slight change: swell shifts to 2ft from the SE with a short period of 9 seconds, combined energy at 173. That’s a jump in size, but the period is short and the wind is cross-off from the east – still clean, but the waves will be choppy and weak.

After that, Wednesday the 15th morning shows 3ft from the ESE with a super short period of 6 seconds, energy at 119. Short period like that means a lumpy, windswept ocean – again, not great for proper surfing, though the wind stays cross-off and clean. Another similar pulse pops up Thursday the 16th morning with 3ft from the ESE, 6 second period, energy 101.

Water temperature at the start is 60°F, which is about average for the time of year – anomaly of just +0.2°F, so nothing unusual there.

From Friday the 17th onward, it fades back to tiny conditioners – 0.7ft to 2ft with short period, cross and cross-on winds making it choppy again. A moment of glass on Sunday the 19th morning is nice, but it’s only 0.7ft from the WSW at 6 seconds – barely a ripple.

Look, the honest call is: there’s no standout session here. The best on offer is Monday the 13th afternoon – the biggest combined energy (106) and cleanest conditions, but it’s still small. If you’re desperate to get wet, that’s your window. Otherwise, this is a long, quiet stretch.

Stay patient, Rusty. Conditions can always change.

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