Rockpile Surf Forecast and Surf Report

IMPERIAL VERSION

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s talk about Rockpile. It’s a reef break, consistent, and exposed to SW swell. The water is sitting at a warm 75° – that’s about 7° warmer than usual for this time of year, which is pretty unusual. For a beginner-friendly spot, that’s a nice bonus if you’re paddling out.

Right now, we’re looking at a bit of a slow start. The first few days are a write-off with poor surf conditions, small cross-onshore winds, and choppy lines. The swell is tiny at 2 ft to 3 ft, with a long period (13–18 seconds) but it’s just not organised. The combined energy is weak (between 262 and 543). Honestly, I’d wait.

Things start to get interesting from Friday, September 4th. The swell bumps up to 4 ft from the SW, period 16 seconds, and the energy climbs to 790 – still marginal, but the morning has a light breeze, so it’s worth a look if you’re desperate. The real standout comes on Saturday, September 5th. By afternoon, it’s glassy – 5 km/h WSW wind, dead calm – with a clean 5 ft S swell at 14 seconds. That’s a solid combo for experienced surfers, and the energy is pumping at 1318. For a beginner spot like Rockpile, 5 ft is pushing it, but for the crew who can handle it, that’s the best window all week.

Sunday, September 6th, and Monday, September 7th, keep the goods coming. Sunday morning has 7 ft SSW swell, period 14 seconds, with a light cross-offshore NNW breeze at 15 km/h – clean faces, big energy at 1576. Monday morning is similar: 7 ft SSW swell, 14 seconds, light cross-offshore, energy at 1840. That’s proper groundswell territory, and at over 7 ft, it’s for experts only. The long period (14 seconds) means the waves will have shape, but at a reef point like this, it’ll line up nicely.

After Monday, the size drops off quickly. Tuesday through to Thursday, September 8–10, sees 5 ft to 7 ft swell, but the wind turns cross-shore or cross-onshore, and the energy fades from 1178 down to 625. Conditions get messy. By Friday, September 11th, we’re back to 3 ft to 3 ft with poor surf and cross-onshore winds.

From Saturday, September 12th, right through to the end of the 16-day window, it’s a long dry spell. Swell drops to 1 ft to 3 ft, period ranges from 13 to 23 seconds, but the energy is weak (under 300), and the wind stays cross-onshore. There’s a tiny flicker on Thursday, September 17th, with a 1 ft swell but a very long 23-second period – that’s a groundswell pulse, but it’s too small to get excited about.

So, the standout is Saturday afternoon, September 5th – glassy, clean, 5 ft S swell, and the best chance for a proper session. If you’re an experienced surfer, Sunday and Monday mornings are also cracking. For the rest of the window, it’s mostly flat or poor. That’s how it goes sometimes.

- Rusty

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