Saltwater Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Righto, let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Saltwater. This is a solid run of surf, but you’ve gotta pick your moments. The pattern starts with a decent pulse of Southern groundswell that hangs around through the weekend, then it fades away mid-week before a proper big-boy swell rolls in for the second week. There’s a few days of tiny stuff in between, so don’t expect a non-stop party.

The best of the whole forecast is hands down the Saturday the 8th of August and Sunday the 9th of August. We’re talking a serious, powerful long-period groundswell from the SSE with a period of 12 to 13 seconds – that’s proper energy. Saturday morning will see 8ft swell with light offshore winds, clean and lined up. That’s a big step up from the days before, and the combined wave energy reading is 1865 – that’s strong. Sunday morning is even bigger: 15ft from the SE with a 13-second period, and a light offshore wind. The energy reading jumps to 6297, which is exceptional for experienced surfers. This is not for beginners.
Saltwater is a point break, so this long-period, big SSE groundswell should wrap in nicely and offer some proper, draining walls. The water temperature is about average for the time of year, so no surprises there.

Before that, the first weekend from Saturday the 25th of July into Sunday the 27th is also very good. Saturday morning brings 6ft of S swell at 12 seconds, with a cross-off wind and a combined energy of 1090. That’s a meaty, clean wave for experienced surfers. The afternoon drops to 5ft, still clean.
Sunday the 26th is similar, with 6ft in the morning and 6ft in the afternoon, both clean. The energy stays in the 700-800 range, so it’s solid. Monday the 27th morning is still fun at 4ft with offshore wind, but by afternoon the wind turns cross-on and it gets messy.

From Tuesday the 28th through to Friday the 7th of August, the surf drops away. There are a few small windows of clean 3-5ft surf on Thursday the 30th and Friday the 31st of July, but the energy is low and the size is small. Wind is okay, but it’s not a standout. There’s a real gap of small, poor surf from Tuesday the 28th of July right through to the 7th of August, with only a few mornings offering a wave. The 5th of August has a glassy 1.0ft from the south, but that’s barely a ripple.

The real standouts are clear:
- Saturday 25th July morning – 6ft S swell, 12 seconds, cross-off wind, clean, 1090 energy. This is the pick of the first week.
- Saturday 8th August morning – 8ft SSE, 12 seconds, light offshore, clean, 1865 energy. This is a big, powerful point break session for experienced surfers.
- Sunday 9th August morning – 15ft SE, 13 seconds, offshore, clean, 6297 energy. This is the one to circle on the calendar for experts only.

Crowds at Saltwater are often, so expect company, especially on these good days. It’s a fairly consistent spot, so the long gap in the middle is a bit of a bummer, but the build-up to that second weekend is worth the wait.

Stay safe out there, and don’t paddle out on the 9th unless you’ve got the experience.

Rusty.

Read more