Shark Island (Cronulla) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. We’ve got a mixed bag comin’ up over the next 16 days at Shark Island, Cronulla. There’s a bit of a wait for the real juice, but when it turns on, it’s gonna be a ripper for those who can handle it. The water temp’s about average for this time of year, nothin’ wild to report there.

The first few days are flat and forgettable. From Monday the 27th through Wednesday the 29th, we’re lookin’ at a whole lot of nothin’. Tiny dribbles and messy wind – not worth paddlin’ out for. Just a dead run of poor conditions.

Thursday the 30th is where the engine starts to fire. The morning sees a solid 7ft swell out of the south, with a clean light offshore breeze from the WSW. That’ll have the reef lumpin’ up. The wave energy’s strong (1247 in the tank), so it’s got some push. It’s advanced territory though – over 5ft, so beginners should sit this one out. The afternoon drops a notch but still holds at 6ft, though the wind swings cross-off from the SSE.

But the real standout – the one you circle on the calendar – is Friday the 31st of July. Early morning, we’ve got a crisp 7ft south swell, clean as a whistle with a light offshore from the WSW. The combined energy is pumpin’ (1353), and it’s a groundswell at 10 seconds, so the waves have shape and power. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers. Crowds are only “sometimes” a hassle here, so you might just get a few good ones to yourself if you’re early. The afternoon gets a bit messier with a cross-off, but the morning is the gold.

Saturday the 1st of August offers a fun little session with 4ft from the SSE and light cross-off winds in the mornin’. It’s clean and surfable, but nothin’ to get too worked up about. Later in the arvo, the wind goes glassy – a real moment of calm – with 4ft south swell, but it’s a bit ordinary.

We then hit a few bleak days from Sunday the 2nd through Wednesday the 5th. Mostly onshore junk or tiny leftovers. Not worth your time.

Then – bam – the second standout. Thursday the 5th of August, early morning. A solid 8ft south swell, clean and offshore from the WSW, with a combined energy of 1765. That’s powerful, long-range groundswell at 10 seconds. The reef will be pitchin’. Again, this is for advanced surfers only – over 8ft and it’s expert territory. The afternoon holds at 6ft but the wind picks up cross-off.

There’s also a promising pulse on Saturday the 8th of August. The morning lights up with a 8ft SSE groundswell at a very long 12 seconds. The energy’s massive (1434), and it’s clean with a light cross-off from the WNW. This will be a proper groundswell – long, lined-up sets – but that long period can make it break a bit straight at a beach break. Out here at Shark Island (a reef), it should handle it beautifully. Expect it to be clean and powerful, but the afternoon turns to junk with onshore wind.

Overall, the two absolute standouts to chase are the morning of Friday July 31st and the morning of Thursday August 5th. The morning of Saturday August 8th is also a beauty, but it’s further out so keep an eye on the charts. Plenty of other days are just poor, so pick your window and make it count.

Stay frothy,
Rusty

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