Shark Island (Cronulla) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at the next 16 days. We’re going to be honest – it’s a pretty grim run for the most part, but there’s one absolute beauty lurking in there if you can wait for it.

The first week and a bit is a write-off. From now through the 22nd of August, the surf is weak and messy. Swell energy is barely creeping into triple digits, maxing out around (279) on Sunday the 16th, but the wind is all wrong – cross-shore and cross-onshore junk, with short, weak periods around 6 to 7 seconds and heights mostly around the 2ft to 3ft mark. It’s not worth paddling out. The water temp is about average for this time of year at this spot, nothing unusual there.

Monday the 18th through Thursday the 20th is more of the same – rain showers, cloudy skies, and small, grovelly waves with energy dropping down to as low as (51). A brief window on Friday the 21st morning shows a slight improvement with a clean, cross-off wind and waves around 3ft from the ENE, but the energy is only (86) and the period is just 7 seconds – surfable, but just barely.

Saturday the 22nd has some offshore wind in the morning, but again, it’s tiny at 3ft. Not worth getting excited about.

Then, hold onto your board – the real standout hits on the morning of Sunday the 23rd of August. This is the one. Shark Island (Cronulla) will be pumping. We’ve got a solid 10ft groundswell from the south, with a period of 9 seconds and massive combined energy of (2175). The wind is light northwesterly, giving a clean cross-off breeze, and it’s glassy conditions. This is big, powerful surf – definitely for advanced crew only, as it’s over 8ft. The swell direction is dead south, which is almost bang on the optimum for this reef break. Expect a clean, lined-up wave. Be warned, this spot can get crowded, so you’ll want to be early. That morning is the only time to go, because by afternoon, the wind swings onshore and the quality drops right off.

Monday the 24th still has some leftover south swell at 4ft in the morning with clean cross-off wind and moderate energy (321), but it’s a step down. It’ll be good, but nothing like the Sunday session.

The following week flattens out again. Tuesday the 25th morning has a brief window with barely any wind – glassy conditions – and a 6ft south swell (475), but it’s a short-period 8 seconds and on the bigger side for a reef. It’s a maybe if you’re desperate. After that, the wind cranks up, with strong breezes and fresh winds dominating through the end of August, keeping the surf choppy and hard to ride. Lots of clean wind but the swell is all over the shop – small and weak, with energy dropping back under (200). Nothing worth planning a trip around after the 24th.

So here’s the deal: the first ten days are a desert. Then Sunday the 23rd morning is your only true gem – a big, clean, powerful south swell at Shark Island. After that, it goes quiet again. Don’t hold your breath for the last week.

Stay patient, and I’ll see you out there on the 23rd.

Rusty

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