Shark Island (Cronulla) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G'day, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s cookin' for Shark Island (Cronulla) over the next couple of weeks.

We start slow. Sunday morning (6th September) has some surfable 3ft swell from the SSW, but a solid 20 km/h offshore wind is blowing, and with a short period of 7 seconds, the energy is only moderate (122). The water’s at 64°F, which is about average for the time of year, so nothing wild. It’s a bit ordinary, mate.

Sunday afternoon gets worse—wind swings south and picks up to 30 km/h, making it messy. Monday’s a write-off too, with cross and cross-onshore winds ruining the 5ft SSE swell. We’re looking at a few days of poor surf until Tuesday morning (8th September) when the swell pushes up to 8ft from the SSE with a 9-second period. The energy jumps to strong (1209), but the wind is cross-offshore, and it’s rated as marginal. This one’s for experts only, as it’s getting big.

Wednesday morning (9th September) has a clean 5ft with fresh offshore wind from the SSW, but the energy is moderate (297). It’s still only marginal. Then Thursday (10th September) morning brings a solid 10ft south swell with a 10-second period, and the energy is very strong (3364). The wind is cross-offshore, but that size is well into expert territory. It’s the biggest of the run, but not the best for most.

The standout window opens up on Friday morning (11th September). We’ve got a clean 6ft south swell at 10 seconds, with light cross-offshore breeze and moderate energy (747). The comment says “expect very good surf conditions,” and I’d say that’s spot on. This is where it gets fun for the experienced crew. The swell direction (S) lines up nicely with the optimum SE direction, and the period is decent, giving good shape.

But the real gem is Saturday morning (12th September). Glassy conditions, wind calm at 0 km/h, with a 7ft south swell at 9 seconds and moderate energy (789). The comment says “very good surf conditions,” and with perfect glass, this is the pick of the whole forecast. The swell is a bit punchy for beginners, but for the advanced crowd, it’s gonna be a ripper. Crowds are listed as “sometimes,” so you might get a stint, but it’s worth it.

After Saturday afternoon, the wind goes onshore, and the surf drops off. We’ve got a long gap from Sunday (13th September) through to the end of the period, with only small, weak swells and poor conditions. A few days like Tuesday (15th September) have a 8ft SSE swell but with cross-shore wind, making it just marginal. The last week is mostly tiny waves under 3ft, with weak energy and onshore winds. Not much to write home about.

So, in summary: the best bet is Saturday morning (12th September) at Shark Island—glassy, 7ft south swell, and clean. Friday morning is a close second. The rest of the run is either too big, too messy, or too small. Get out there on the weekend if you can.

Rusty.

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