Salgema Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ve had a good look at what’s on offer for the next couple of weeks, and I’m not gonna sugar-coat it—the outlook is pretty grim. There are no standout, rideable windows in this entire 16-day stretch. Every single session is marked as poor surf conditions, so if you’ve got your heart set on a paddle, you might want to make other plans.

The only glimmer of anything even close to a mention is a very late call on Thursday the 24th of September, but even then, it’s not good enough to get excited about.

Let’s talk about the water first. For Salgema, the water temp is sitting at 80°, which is about 1° above the long-term average—nothing to write home about, just a normal late-summer feel.

The surf pattern is pretty much a bust from the start. On Saturday the 12th, we’ve got a clean-looking 2ft south swell with a very long 16-second period, but the wind is cross-onshore from the ENE at 12 mph, and it’s choppy. Combined energy is moderate at 580, but the quality is shot. That long-period south groundswell would usually be a treat for a point or reef, but with the wind on it like that, it’s just a mess.

Sunday the 13th is smaller again—3ft and dropping to 3ft, with a short 8-second period from the ESE and cross-onshore winds. Energy drops to 232 then 158. Choppy, no thanks.

Monday the 14th through to Saturday the 20th is a long, frustrating stretch. Swell heights bounce between 2ft and 5ft, mostly from the ESE or S, with periods all over the place—from a weak 7 seconds up to a very long 14 seconds. But every single one is plagued by cross-onshore winds from the east or ENE, blowing 9 to 16 mph, keeping the surface choppy and ugly. Combined energy sits mostly between 104 and 392, which is weak to moderate at best. Not a single clean window in there.

Sunday the 21st and Monday the 22nd are the same story—2ft to 3ft, long-period south swells (12 to 14 seconds), but still cross-onshore and messy. Energy bumps up a bit—334 and 295—but the wind just ruins it.

Tuesday the 23rd sees a bit more energy, but with a fresh 19 mph cross-onshore wind, it’s lumpy and horrible. That’s a write-off.

Then we get to Thursday the 24th of September—the only session in the whole outlook that’s not rated as poor. Morning has a 3ft ESE swell with an 11-second period, and the wind is gentle cross-shore from the ENE at 9 mph, with only a slight cross-chop. Combined energy is moderate at 231. It’s described as "marginal," and honestly, that’s the best you’re gonna get. If you’re desperate, that might be your one shot, but don’t expect much.

After that, Friday the 25th is back to poor conditions, and then we hit Saturday the 26th and Sunday the 27th—two days with the biggest swell of the period. We’re looking at 4ft to 4ft south swells with a very long period of 18 to 19 seconds, and the combined energy is strong to very strong—1157 and 1244. That’s proper groundswell, the kind that would be unreal at a point or reef. But again, the wind is cross-onshore at 12 to 16 mph, and it’s choppy. The wave comment is still "poor surf conditions." So close, yet so far.

Honestly, for this whole 16-day window, there’s just nothing to recommend. If you’re a beginner, the swell never really gets above 5ft, so it’s not too big, but the wind and chop make it uninviting. For an experienced surfer, the lack of clean conditions is the killer. This setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing, with that consistent cross-onshore breeze and some size.

Keep an eye on it—forecasts can change, and it doesn’t stay poor forever. But right now? Save your energy.

Rusty.

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