Shark Island (Cronulla) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, giving you the rundown on Shark Island (Cronulla). This reef break is a bit of a late bloomer this week, but there’s a sweet window coming up that’ll get the blood pumping.

Right now, we’re in a bit of a flat spell. The first decent chance doesn’t show up until Friday the 24th, and even then it’s a marginal call. The water’s sitting at 63°F, which is about average for this time of year, so nothing weird there.

Friday the 24th afternoon brings a 5ft south swell, with a 12-second period—that’s a nice long groundswell, and it’s pushing in with moderate energy (646). The wind is light and cross from the southeast at 6 mph, so it’s a bit lumpy. Not the best, but the reef should handle the direction well. It’s a tester for the advanced crew only.

Saturday the 25th starts off with a clean morning. A 5ft south swell, 11-second period, and a light offshore from the west at 9 mph. The energy is solid (605). This is where it gets interesting. Then Saturday afternoon turns glassy—wind drops to 3 mph from the east-northeast, and the swell drops to 4ft but still clean. That’s a real gem for the experienced surfer, but the lower energy (305) means it’ll be a bit less punchy.

Sunday the 26th morning is the standout. A 6ft south swell with an 11-second period, and a clean offshore wind from the west-southwest at 9 mph. The energy is pumping (753). This is the best on offer—clean, lined-up, and the reef will be working beautifully. Crowds are sometimes a thing here, so expect a few out, but the quality will be worth it. The afternoon turns cross-shore and messy, so get in early.

From Monday the 27th onwards, it’s a slow fade. The swell drops to 4ft by Monday morning, then down to 2ft by Tuesday, and the wind turns onshore or cross. There’s a gap of several days with no real recommendations. Wednesday the 29th has a brief spike of 6ft south swell in the afternoon, but the wind is a fresh 19 mph from the south-southeast, making it choppy and poor. Not for the paddle surfer—that wind and swell combo might be more interesting for a kite session.

The second week is a write-off. From Thursday the 30th right through to Saturday the 8th of August, the swell is mostly below 3ft, with a few pulses of 3ft, and the wind is often onshore or cross. The energy is weak—mostly two-digit numbers like 55 or 37. One little blip on Monday the 3rd of August morning has a 2ft swell from the southeast with a 7-second period, but it’s glassy and tiny. Not worth paddling out for.

So, bottom line: lock in Sunday the 26th morning. That’s the one. The rest of the run is slim pickings, but forecasts can change. For now, get out there on Sunday and make it count.

Rusty.

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