Shark Island (Cronulla) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, it’s Rusty. Let’s talk about the next few weeks at Shark Island (Cronulla). This is a solid reef break that loves a good south swell, but we’re looking at a pretty patchy run here. There’s not much to get excited about for the first week – mostly small, messy, or onshore junk. The real standout window is mid-next week, when a big pulse of south swell arrives, but even that comes with a caveat: the conditions are marginal and it’s only for the confident crew.

Right now, Monday the 14th is a write-off. You’ve got a tiny 2 ft south swell with a cross-on northerly breeze and only weak energy (139), so don’t bother. Tuesday the 15th stays small and clean but barely surfable – just 2 ft from the northeast, period of 7 seconds, and the combined energy is a weak 67. Wednesday the 16th is where things start to get interesting, but it’s not for the faint-hearted. A solid 10 ft south swell rolls in on Wednesday morning, period 10 seconds, and the combined energy jumps to a strong 1920. The winds are cross-off from the SSW, keeping it clean, but at 10 ft this is expert territory. It gets even bigger in the afternoon – 12 ft south swell, energy up to 2129 – but the wind swings southerly and picks up to 25 mph, making it a real handful. By Thursday the 17th, the swell hangs around 10 ft from the south, energy a meaty 2590, with light SSW cross-off breezes – clean but again, big. This stretch from Wednesday to Thursday morning is your best bet if you’ve got the skills. After that, the swell drops fast.

Thursday afternoon drops to 7 ft, energy 637, but winds go cross-shore from the ESE, so it’s a bit bumpy. Friday the 18th is small with 5 ft, energy 360, and light cross-shore winds, but nothing special. From Friday arvo through the weekend it fades away to tiny, messy waves – 2 ft on Saturday morning with clean cross-off wind, but very weak energy (122). Sunday the 20th is flat – 1 ft from the SSE, period 9 seconds, energy a paltry 32. Monday and Tuesday next week (21st and 22nd) stay poor, with small onshore slop.

Then another pulse shows up later in the second week. On Monday the 28th, a 6 ft swell from the NE appears, period 8 seconds, energy 628, with clean cross-off SSE winds – that’s a decent option for intermediate surfers, but it’s still marginal. It drops back quickly after that. Tuesday the 29th has only 4 ft from the ENE, energy 152, and moderate cross-off winds.

The water temp is about 63°, which is a touch cooler than average for this time of year (anomaly of -1°), so you’ll want a decent wetsuit.

If you’re an experienced surfer, the Wednesday 16th to Thursday 17th morning window is the clear standout – big south swell, clean, and plenty of power. For everyone else, the small window on Monday the 28th is worth a look. Crowds are sometimes an issue here, especially when it’s good, but with the size and conditions, the main event will weed out the less committed.

Rusty.

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