Shark Island (Cronulla) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll level with ya – the next two weeks are a mixed bag at Shark Island, with a long stretch of doldrums in the back half. The forecast starts with a few weak, messy days, but there’s a true standout window mid-week that’s worth circling on the calendar.

We’re kicking off Sunday the 23rd with a tiny 2ft south swell and a 20 km/h onshore from the northeast. The water’s sitting at 62°, about average for the time of year, but with the wind howling onshore, it’s a write-off. Monday the 24th isn’t much better – 3ft south swell, cross-on nor’westerlies, and the energy is weak (247). Tuesday the 25th brings a bump to 4ft, but it’s short-period stuff (6 seconds) from the northeast, with light rain and cross-on wind. The combined energy pushes to 376 (moderate), but the quality is poor.

Now, Wednesday the 26th morning – this is where it gets interesting. The wind swings offshore from the SSW at 15 km/h, cleaning up a 3ft ENE swell with an 8-second period. The energy is modest (172), but that offshore wind makes it glassy. The standouts? Thursday morning the 27th is the real gem. We’ve got a 5ft south swell, 8-second period, combined energy of 396 (moderate), and the wind is dead glassy – 5 km/h from the south. Expect good surf. This is the pick of the fortnight. For a reef break like Shark Island, that south swell direction lines up nicely with the optimum. Just be aware, crowds are sometimes a factor here.

Friday the 28th morning drops back to 2ft from the SSE, but it’s clean with a 5 km/h WNW cross-off wind. The period stretches to 11 seconds, giving the waves a bit more shape. Saturday the 29th morning is another glassy one – 4ft SSE swell, 9-second period, glassy conditions. Good surf again.

After that, it fades. Sunday the 30th drops to 2ft, and from Monday the 31st onward, the swell is tiny. The first week of September sees runs of 1ft to 3ft, with weak energy (under 100) and a lot of poor surf conditions. There’s a brief flash on Monday the 7th – a 3ft south swell with 9-second period and clean cross-off wind, but the energy is weak (130). Honestly, after the 29th, it’s a long, flat run. For the area, this kind of blank spell isn’t unusual, but forecasts can change.

So, wrap it up: Wednesday the 26th morning is a solid option, but Thursday the 27th morning is the one to pencil in. That glassy 5ft south swell at Shark Island will be firing for the advanced crew.

Rusty.

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