Saltwater Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright mate, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's lined up for Saltwater over the next couple of weeks.

We’ve got a bit of a slow start, but things start ticking over from Tuesday the 11th. The opening session on Tuesday morning is a bit of a write-off – only 3ft of weak, short-period ENE windswell and a cross-off shore breeze making for poor conditions. The afternoon shapes up much better though, with a pulse of SSW swell pushing 6ft, a period of 8 seconds, and a light cross-off breeze. The set-up feels a bit raw and the combined energy is moderate (486), but it’ll be clean and there's some fun, pushy waves there for a beginner-friendly point break.

Wednesday morning the 12th is a write-off again with a cross-on shore messing up a 4ft S swell, but Wednesday afternoon turns it around. The wind swings cross-off, the S swell cleans up to 3ft, and with a 10-second period it’ll have a bit more shape. A solid option for a quiet arvo surf.

Thursday morning the 13th is the first real standout. We get a clean 5ft S swell with a 12 mph offshore breeze from the SW. The period drops to 8 seconds, so the waves will be a bit more sectiony, but the offshore wind will groom it into nice walls. The combined energy is a moderate 306. This is your best call early in the run – clean, user-friendly and the point will be working nicely with an optimum SE swell direction. Afternoon is a bit more marginal with a strong cross-off breeze.

Friday the 14th morning is another beaut with offshore SW winds and a clean 4ft S swell. This is the pick of the first week, in my opinion. Glassy conditions, consistent waves, and the point will have some long, rideable lines. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

Heading into the weekend, Saturday the 15th is a bit of a mixed bag with a bumpy cross-off breeze and a building 5ft S swell. It’ll be a bit lumpy but still surfable for those who don't mind a bit of chop. It’s a bit more of a kite-surfing kind of setup with the moderate wind energy. Sunday the 16th is similar, with a smaller 4ft SSW swell and cross-off breezes, but the period drops to 7 seconds, so it'll be a bit weak and messy.

Now, the second week gets a bit more interesting but also more uncertain. Monday the 17th sees a jump in size with a 8ft SE swell, but the period is only 8 seconds and the combined energy is strong (850). The wind is cross-off but it’s raining and the surf will be a bit raw. This is definitely expert-only territory – too big for beginners and the short period will make it dumpy and hard to handle. Tuesday the 18th holds similar size (8ft) and energy (718) but again, it's marginal and cross-off.

The best of this second week comes much later. Friday the 21st of August morning is a real gem. The swell drops to a clean 4ft from the E, but the wind goes totally offshore from the SW at only 3 mph – basically glass. The period is a solid 9 seconds, so the waves will have some shape and push. The combined energy is moderate (231). This is the true standout of the whole outlook – a classic dawny with clean lines and no crowd (though it can get busy here at times).

Saturday the 22nd and Sunday the 23rd are pretty poor – cross-on winds and small, weak swell. Not worth paddling out. Monday the 24th has a bit of pulse with a 5ft S swell and a cross shore breeze but it’s marginal and the wind ramps up to 19 mph in the arvo. The last real highlight is Tuesday the 25th of August morning with 5ft from the SSE, clean offshore SW winds at 16 mph, and moderate energy (411). That’s a solid, clean session for the more experienced crew.

So overall, the best on offer is Thursday morning the 13th and Friday the 21st morning. Thursday is the steady, consistent winner, and Friday the 21st is the glassy, long-range promise.

Rusty.

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