Shark Island (Cronulla) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s on the cards for Shark Island (Cronulla). It’s a reef set-up that takes a fair bit of south-east in the swell window, so we’ve got to be patient.

The water temp is sitting at 63°, which is about 1° cooler than normal for this time of year – nothing too wild, just a standard winter chill.

The next week and a half is a bit of a mixed bag. We’ve got a bit of a wait on our hands. The first few days are looking pretty average. Monday the 20th has some 6ft swell from the ENE, but it’s straight onshore with a NE breeze, so that’s a write-off. Tuesday and Wednesday are small and messy, with the wind all over the shop. Thursday the 23rd is also tiny, with only 3ft to 2ft and a WSW wind that’s at least cross-off, but the energy is just too weak (107 down to 81) to bother.

Friday the 24th morning is the first real glimmer of hope. A clean 5ft south swell rolls in, with a light WSW offshore breeze. The combined energy is moderate (460), and the 9-second period means it’ll have a bit of push. It’s not a massive standout, but it’s the best we’ve seen so far. The afternoon goes onshore, so make it a dawn mission.

Saturday the 25th and Sunday the 26th are frustrating. The swell sticks around from the south, 5ft to 4ft, and the period stretches to 11 seconds on Saturday – a proper groundswell. But the wind is howling out of the west-southwest at 15-18 mph, just making a mess of it. The energy is moderate (524), but it’s a struggle. Sunday morning is still a bit windy, but Sunday afternoon? That’s where it gets interesting. The wind drops to glassy, with a light SSE breeze, and the swell is a clean 4ft from the south. The energy is moderate (309) and the conditions are glassy. That Sunday afternoon session is the pick of the first week – clean, lined up, and no wind.

Monday the 27th sees the swell dropping, with a 3ft south swell and a clean offshore SW wind, but it’s pretty ordinary. Tuesday the 28th and Wednesday the 29th are flat and not worth talking about, with energy dropping to 40 and 52.

Now, for the real standout. Thursday the 30th morning brings a solid 6ft south swell, but the wind is a cross-shore, making it a bit messy. The energy is strong (1026), so there’s plenty of water moving. Thursday afternoon, however, cleans up with a WNW cross-off breeze and a 5ft south swell. It’s a solid option.

But the true highlight is Tuesday the 4th of August. The morning shows an 8ft south swell, with a 11-second period – that’s a serious groundswell. The energy is massive (1951). The wind is light and cross-off from the west. This is expert territory. At over 8ft, it’s too big for beginners, and at a reef break, it’ll be a beast. The afternoon is a bit smaller at 8ft but from the SSE with a 12-second period, and a light cross-shore. That full day on the 4th is the absolute standout of the entire 16-day window, but it’s a long way off – more than a week away – so keep an eye on it.

The gap between Sunday the 26th and Thursday the 30th is a few days of small, ordinary stuff. And after the 4th, the following Monday the 3rd of August has a 4ft south swell and a clean offshore WSW wind, but the Tuesday is the one you want to circle.

Shark Island is a reef, so when that longer-period south swell (11-12 seconds) hits, it’ll bend and throw. It’s not a beach break, so the long period is a good thing here. Crowds are sometimes an issue, but on a Tuesday in August, you might get lucky.

Alright, that’s the lay of the land. Keep your wetsuit zipped and your eyes on the 4th. Rusty out.

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