Seaside Cove Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – if you’re hanging out for good waves at Seaside Cove over the next 16 days, you’re in for a pretty lean run. The pattern is dominated by small, weak swell and persistent cross or cross-onshore breezes, so don’t get your hopes up too early. The first surf that’s actually worth paddling out for doesn’t show until well into the second week.

We kick off on Sunday the 9th of August with tiny 1 ft swell from the southwest, a respectably long 16-second period, but the cross-shore wind and poor surf conditions mean it’s basically a lake. Combined energy is weak (118), and it stays that way through Monday and Tuesday – just 1.0 ft to 1 ft, all cross-shore or cross-onshore, zero fun. Wednesday the 12th sees a small bump in energy (230 by afternoon) but still only 1 ft and cross-onshore chop. Honestly, you’re better off doing something else.

Thursday the 13th offers a slight tease: the morning shows 4 ft from the west-northwest but the period drops to a short 8 seconds, and it’s cross-onshore. Combined energy hits 259 – still only moderate – and the surf is rated marginal at best. Friday morning the 14th has a brief moment with light offshore wind from the west-northwest, but the swell is only 3 ft, period a weak 7 seconds, and energy is moderate (199). It’s still poor quality. Kites might have a bit more fun than paddlers across these days.

The real gap stretches from the 9th right through to the 18th of August with hardly a single decent session. Then, finally, on Tuesday morning the 18th, things get interesting. The swell drops back to 3 ft from the southwest, period a solid 14 seconds, but look – the wind goes glassy. Combined energy jumps way up to 470 (strong wave energy) and we finally get “expect good surf conditions.” That morning offers clean, lined-up waves on the small side, perfect for a beginner or longboard. Tuesday afternoon stays glassy with 2 ft, energy still moderate-strong at 333. Wednesday morning the 19th carries that glassy feel with 3 ft from the west, 11-second period, energy 206. It’s small but clean, and that’s the standout window – small but pure.

After that, the wind swings back onshore from Thursday the 20th onward, the swell sticks around 3 ft but gets sloppy, and by the weekend it’s back to tiny 2 ft–2 ft junk. The last few days of the period, the 23rd and 24th, are also poor, with cross-shore or cross-onshore wind and weak to moderate energy.

So here’s the call: the absolute best on offer is Tuesday the 18th and Wednesday the 19th. Seaside Cove (beach reef and point) is exposed to the northwest, and this southwest and west swell should run nicely along the point and reef sections. The water temp is about average for this time of year, no big anomaly. Crowds are possible here sometimes, so get there early for the glassy morning windows. It’s consistent, so if you’re a beginner or just want some easy, clean little waves, that’s your moment. Long period groundswell (14 seconds) will mean longer gaps between sets, so sit a bit wider and be patient.

For anyone else, it’s a blank run with hardly a rippable wave for the first week and a half. Forecasts can change, but right now, mark your calendar for the 18th.

Rusty.

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