Shark Island (Cronulla) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s shaping up for Shark Island (Cronulla). It’s a reef setup, exposed to the SE, and it’s been a bit of a slow burner, but we’ve got a serious pulse of energy coming if you’re patient.

The water’s sitting at 63°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there – just grab your usual steamer.

The week starts off quiet. Thursday the 9th has a modest 6ft SE swell, but it’s a bit messy with a cross-off SSE breeze at 12 mph, and the combined energy is only moderate at 599. It’s a pass. Friday the 10th looks a touch better with similar 5ft SE swell, a light 6 mph S wind, and a bit more energy (470-533), but still nothing to write home about. Saturday the 11th drops off fast – 4ft and onshore NE winds in the afternoon, so that’s a write-off. Sunday the 12th is tiny, 2ft, and the whole of Monday the 13th is flat with a glassy morning but only 1.0ft – you’d be floating around doing nothing.

We’ve got a dry spell from Saturday the 11th right through to Tuesday the 14th – nothing worth paddling out for.

Now, the real story starts to build towards the end of the 16-day window. Wednesday the 15th sees a jump to 6ft S swell, but the wind is howling at 28 mph and the period is a short 7 seconds, so it’s chopped and messy. That’s a kite day, not a paddle day.

The standouts, and this is the one you’ve been waiting for, are Saturday the 18th and Sunday the 19th. This is where it gets serious. On Saturday morning the 18th, we’re looking at a massive 20ft SSE groundswell with a 12-second period – that’s a very long period, which means proper, powerful lines. The combined energy is off the charts at 9412, stupid strong. The wind is only 6 mph from the S, cross-off, so it’s going to be clean. This is expert territory only. At 20ft, you’d better be confident at a reef break like Shark Island. The long period will make the waves stand up tall and wall up nicely off the reef, but it might be too straight for the open beach – it’s perfect for the reef. Crowds are possible, as it’s a spot that draws attention when it’s on.

Sunday the 19th morning is still pumping with an 18ft SSE swell, 12-second period, and a NW cross-shore wind at 9 mph. Still massive, still expert only. The energy is 9065. The afternoon turns onshore NE and messy, so get your session in early.

Monday the 20th afternoon is a solid secondary option if you’re around – 8ft SE swell, 11-second period, and a clean WSW offshore wind at 6 mph. That’s excellent for experienced surfers, with a combined energy of 1505, much more manageable. This is the best bet for someone who doesn’t want to get pounded by 20ft sets.

Overall, if you’ve got the skills and the nerve, the 18th and 19th are the absolute standouts. Massive, clean, powerful. For the rest of us, the 20th afternoon offers a solid, clean session without the full-on chaos.

Stay safe out there.

Rusty.

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