Rockpile Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ve gotta be straight with you – the next couple of weeks at Rockpile are looking pretty flat and nothing to get excited about. We’ve got a long stretch of small, weak swell and a lot of those sessions are rated as poor or marginal. The first surfable day isn’t until Wednesday the 19th, and even then it’s a real soft start.

The pattern shows a tiny pulse of swell from the SW, with heights hanging around 2 ft, and periods that are mostly in the 13 to 16 second range. That long period stuff is better for a point or reef, so at least Rockpile is a reef, but the wave energy is weak – mostly in the 200s and 300s. The wind is a bit of a mixed bag, but there are a few windows where it goes light and onshore or cross-onshore, which keeps things messy.

The water temperature is sitting at 71°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year.

Let’s run through the best bits. Wednesday the 19th is the first real chance. Morning has some clear skies, a light W breeze at 6 mph coming cross-on, and a 3 ft SW swell with a 16-second period. The combined energy is 384 – moderate but weak. It’s only a marginal call, but it’s the best we’ve seen. The wind is light, so it won’t be too chopped up. The afternoon stays similar, with a 3 ft SW swell, 16 seconds, and the wind swings to WSW at 6 mph going onshore. Still light, but not glassy.

Thursday the 20th is a step down: 2 ft SW swell, 14-second period, and light SW wind onshore in the morning. The energy drops to 297. It’s poor in the morning, marginal in the afternoon. Not worth a special trip.

Friday the 21st is same small stuff – 2 ft SW, 13 seconds, onshore breeze. Marginal or poor.

Saturday the 22nd sees a drop to 1 ft with a long 18-second period in the morning, but the energy is only 198. That’s tiny. The afternoon picks up a bit to 2 ft from the SSW, 15 seconds, but still weak.

Sunday the 23rd is similar: 2 ft in the morning with a 19-second period (energy 319), and 2 ft in the afternoon from the SSW, 13 seconds. The wind is light cross-on or onshore.

Now, the real standout in this whole 16-day window is the weekend of the 29th and 30th of August. That’s over a week away, so keep an eye on it, but it’s the only time we see a bit of life. Saturday the 29th has a 3 ft to 3 ft SW swell, 16-second period, and the energy jumps to 528 in the morning and 578 in the afternoon. That’s the highest energy we see. The wind is light from the W to WNW at 6 mph, but it’s cross-on, so not perfect. Sunday the 30th holds similar: 3 ft SW, 15 seconds, energy in the 500s, and the wind goes light cross-shore in the afternoon. That’s the best window – still small, but the most push and the most consistent energy.

After that, Monday the 31st drops back to 3 ft with a 14-second period, and the energy drops to 331. The wind picks up a bit. Then it’s back to tiny, poor conditions through the first few days of September.

Honestly, if you’re a beginner, the swell never gets above 5 ft, so it’s all safe. But for anyone wanting a decent wave, the only real chance is the 29th and 30th. The rest is a long, flat gap. The crowd profile at Rockpile says it’s “often” busy, so if you do go on that weekend, expect company.

Stay safe, and don’t bother paddling out in the middle of the week.

Rusty.

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