Shark Island (Cronulla) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Shark Island (Cronulla) – a solid reef setup that’s only for the advanced crew. The water’s sitting at 64°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so nothing weird going on there.

Right now, we’ve got a decent pulse of S/SSE swell pushing through, but it’s all wrapped in a bit of a messy story. The beginning of the period is a bit of a mixed bag – the swell is there, but the conditions are a bit rough around the edges. For Sunday the 5th, we’re looking at a solid 10 ft S swell with a 11-second period, but it’s getting hammered by a 19 mph SSW wind. The combined energy is strong at 2247, but the wind is a bit strong for that classic Shark Island perfection. Sunday afternoon cleans up a little, but it’s a cross-off, still pretty big at 12 ft with a 13-second period and energy hitting 3361 – definitely expert territory, and not for the faint-hearted.

Monday the 6th and Tuesday the 7th keep the size up around 8 ft to 10 ft, with SSE and SE swells, periods around 10 to 11 seconds. The wind stays cross-off, so it’s clean but the conditions are still a bit average. The energy stays high – over 1400 to 2200 – so there’s plenty of grunt, but it’s not the classic glassy perfection we all chase.

The standout window is actually Friday the 10th. That morning we’ve got the wind dropping to practically nothing – a glassy 3 mph from the WSW, with a 6 ft SE swell and a 9-second period. The energy is moderate at 591, but the conditions are what you’d call “expect good surf.” That’s the one to pencil in for a clean session, especially as the wind stays light offshore into the afternoon. The swell is still solid enough for a good reef slab, and the direction is right in the sweet spot for Shark Island (SE is what it wants). Just keep in mind, this spot does get crowded at times, so get in early.

After that, the weekend drops off fast. Saturday the 11th sees the swell shrinking to 4 ft with a 9-second period, and by Sunday the 12th it’s down to 3 ft. The wind goes onshore, and the energy plummets to 172 and then 138 – it’s pretty much done. From Monday the 13th all the way through to Monday the 20th, we’re looking at a long stretch of tiny surf, with most days showing 1 ft to 2 ft and energy levels below 120. The wind is mostly cross-off or offshore, but there’s just no swell to work with. It’s a real dry spell, and that’s normal for this area when the ocean just goes quiet.

So, to sum it up: the best bet is definitely Friday the 10th for a clean, glassy session on a solid SE swell. Thursday the 9th offers a slightly smaller but still clean option with moderate winds. If you’re an expert and can handle the wind, Sunday the 5th has plenty of size, but it’s not the pick of the bunch. Everything else is a flat spell. Stay keen, and keep an eye on the charts – it tends not to stay this quiet forever.

Rusty.

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