Shacks Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s cooking at Shacks over the next couple of weeks. This is a reef break, exposed to the swell, and it’s got some potential if you play it smart. The water’s running at 80°, which is about average for this time of year, nothing wild.

Starting Tuesday the 21st of July, it’s a slow go. Tuesday morning brings rain showers and a 3ft southerly swell, 14-second period, with an easterly breeze that’s onshore – not doing us any favours. The combined swell energy is moderate (638), but conditions are marginal. By the afternoon, it’s worse with a cross-onshore wind and poor surf. Wednesday the 22nd is a bummer too: a 4ft easterly swell, 12-second period, but a cross-shore wind keeps it choppy, and the energy sits at moderate (744). The afternoon is a mess with cross-onshore winds. First few days are a bit of a dud.

Thursday the 23rd through Saturday the 25th, we’ve got small SSW to S swells, 2ft to 3ft, with very long periods of 18 to 21 seconds. That long-period groundswell can work a reef like Shacks, but the wind is cross-shore and often cross-onshore from the NE at 12 to 15 mph, so it’s choppy and not clean. The energy is moderate (up to 1039), but quality is poor. Not worth rushing out.

Then we hit the first standout. Sunday the 26th of July morning: a 5ft easterly swell, 16-second period, with a NNE cross-shore breeze at 12 mph. The combined energy jumps to strong (1670). It’s still a bit lumpy, but the size is building. By the afternoon, the swell bumps to 5ft, period 15 seconds, energy very strong (1955), but the wind picks up to 19 mph and it gets messy with a fresh cross-shore chop. Still, there’s potential if you can snag a clean one.

Now, the real standout lands on Tuesday the 28th of July. Monday the 27th has 7ft easterly swell, 14-second period, with cross-shore winds and very strong energy (2080) – but still a bit lumpy. Come Tuesday morning, the swell holds at 7ft from the ENE, 13-second period, and the wind swings to a north cross-offshore at 12 mph. The conditions turn clean, with strong energy (1461). This is the best run – a proper, clean, lined-up reef wave at Shacks. It’s intermediate-friendly for size (7ft is a solid step up), but not for beginners. The afternoon repeats the same goodness, cross-offshore and clean. Mark Tuesday the 28th on your calendar.

Wednesday the 29th still has 6ft to 6ft ENE swell, 11-second period, but the wind goes cross-shore again and the energy drops (1149 to 874). It’s okay, not a standout.

From Thursday the 30th onward, it fades fast. Swell drops to 4ft and below, periods shorten to 8 or 9 seconds, and the winds stay cross or cross-onshore. The combined energy drops to weak to moderate (349 and lower). Friday the 31st July is a write-off with poor conditions. A small bump on Saturday the 1st of August brings 7ft easterly swell, but only 8-second period and cross-shore winds – poor quality, and the afternoon is choppy and cross-onshore. Sunday the 2nd and Monday the 3rd show 8ft to 6ft ENE swell, but with cross-onshore winds and short period (9 seconds). It’s big but messy – more for experts who don’t mind a fight. By Tuesday the 4th and Wednesday the 5th of August, the swell drops below 5ft with light onshore winds and poor surf.

Bottom line: Tuesday the 28th of July is your day. Clean, cross-offshore wind, solid 7ft ENE swell, and a reef that can handle it. Everything else is a compromise. Get out there for that one.

Rusty.

Read more