Shark Island (Cronulla) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at the next few weeks for Shark Island (Cronulla). This is a reef break for the advanced crew, and it’s fairly consistent with a decent exposure to the south-east.

Right now, we’re looking at a pretty slow start. The next few days are a write-off. Friday and Saturday the 17th and 18th have tiny, weak swell coming from the east, only around 2ft to 3ft, and the wind is a cross-offshore breeze, but the energy is just too low to get excited about. The combined energy is only 37 to 178 (weak), and the period is short, around 6 to 7 seconds. It’s clean, but it’s a flat spell.

Sunday the 19th sees a bit of a pulse arrive. Swell picks up to 6ft from the east-northeast, with a period of 10 to 11 seconds, giving a combined energy of 940 (moderate). The wind is light and cross, so it’s not terrible, but the forecast calls it marginal. The swell is a little short in period for a proper groundswell, and the tide might be a factor. It’s the best of a quiet run, but it’s not a standout.

Monday the 20th drops back to 5ft, and the wind swings onshore in the afternoon, killing it. Tuesday through to Thursday the 23rd are all small, with weak energy and inconsistent conditions. The combined energy is under 400 most of the time, and the swell is only 3ft to 4ft. It’s clean in the mornings, but there’s just not enough push.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Friday the 24th of July, a solid pulse of southerly groundswell arrives. The morning shows 12ft from the south, with a period of 10 seconds and a combined energy of 3675 (strong). The wind is a fresh offshore from the southwest, making for clean, lined-up waves. This is big, though – over 8ft – so it’s strictly for the experts. The afternoon drops to 8ft, still clean, with a cross-offshore breeze. This is the first real standout of the window.

Saturday the 25th and Sunday the 26th see the swell easing but still holding 5ft to 8ft from the south and south-southeast. The wind stays cross-offshore, and the conditions are clean, but the energy is dropping. The 26th has a fresh breeze, but it’s a solid option for the experienced crew.

The real prize looks like Monday the 27th of July. The morning brings a 5ft swell from the southeast, but the period hits 12 seconds – that’s a proper long-period groundswell. The combined energy is 738 (moderate), and the wind is a gentle cross-offshore breeze. The forecast says “expect very good surf conditions.” This is the kind of day that lines up nicely at a reef, with clean, powerful waves. This is the top pick.

Tuesday the 28th also has a big moment in the morning. A 6ft south swell with a 10-second period, offshore wind from the southwest, and a combined energy of 1366 (strong). The forecast says “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” This is a close second, but it’s a bit more size and a little shorter period than Monday.

After that, the swell fades. Wednesday the 29th through to Saturday the 1st of August drops back to small, messy conditions. The energy is low, and the wind turns onshore or cross-shore with rain and chop. The 30th has a 17-second period swell, but it’s only 2ft, so it’s a ghost. The end of the window is a write-off.

So, the standout is Monday the 27th of July. That 5ft, 12-second south-east groundswell with light offshore winds at Shark Island is where you want to be. It’s clean, it’s powerful, and it’s a reef break, so it’ll handle that long period beautifully. The expert day on the 24th is also a big one if you’ve got the nerve.

Rusty out.

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