Shark Island (Cronulla) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s goin’ on.

The next week and a half is gonna be a rough one for the few of us who paddle out at Shark Island (Cronulla). We’ve got a real patchy outlook, with a few windows that are just barely surfable and a whole lot of average to downright poor conditions in between. The main thing to keep in mind: there are a few longer gaps where it just won't be worth wettin' a suit.

To start, on Tuesday the 11th of August, the morning shows a 2ft ENE swell at a 10-second period, with a cross-off wind. It’s clean, but the combined wave energy is weak at 162, and surf reports are “poor.” The afternoon jumps up to 5ft from the south, same period, but marginal with questionable tide – the energy jumps to 625, but that’s moderate, not a real standout yet.

Wednesday the 12th, morning holds 4ft south swell, 10 seconds, with a gentle cross-off and clean. Combined energy is moderate at 251. It’s surfable, but just ordinary. Afternoon drops off again. Thursday the 13th morning is a highlight here: 3ft south swell, 8-second short period, but we finally get some true *offshore* wind from the southwest (15 km/h) – that’s clean, glassy surf with gentle offshore and clean conditions. Energy is light to moderate at 130. Best of the early run, but only for a short window. Shame the swell’s tiny, real small wave boards territory. Friday the 14th morning holds a little more hope – 3ft south swell, 9 seconds, light WSW wind – but again, it’s just ordinary.

But mate, from Friday afternoon all the way through to Wednesday the 19th of August, it’s mostly a write-off. We’ve got wind switching, rain showers, and swell that’s either short period or coming from the wrong direction. The water temp is running *1°F colder* than normal for this time of year, sitting at 61°F. That’s notable – feels a bit colder than average in the water, and with the conditions not helping, it’s grim.

There’s a little blip on Thursday the 20th morning – clean, 3ft from the ESE, but again ordinary. Then a gap until Saturday the 22nd where it’s just not good.

The standout? Has to be the morning of Thursday 13th August: 3ft from the south, but with 15 km/h offshore SW wind, clean, and a reef break that handles that direction. It’s small but clean – best quality in an otherwise poor run.

Then, lookin’ a week and a half out – right at the end of the forecast, on Tuesday 25th of August, there’s a swell that lights up the energy numbers. That morning brings an 8ft south swell at 9 seconds. Combined energy hits 1968 – that’s strong to very strong wave energy. That’s big, mate. But the wind is cross-off from the SSW at 30 km/h. It’s clean, but 8ft is expert territory, especially at a reef. It’s also a longer period (11 seconds) on that Monday (24th) and Tuesday, but that can make the reef lines real good – just for the experienced crew. Keep an eye on that as a potential, but it's far out, so don't bank on it just yet.

Overall, if you’re patient, the 13th morning is your best early call, and the 25th is a distant promise for the experts.

Rusty.

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