Shark Island (Cronulla) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Righto, let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for Shark Island over the next couple of weeks.

First thing you gotta know – we’re waiting. The next week and a half is pretty grim. There’s a fair gap of poor to ordinary conditions before anything worth paddling out for shows up. The first proper window of opportunity doesn’t arrive until Thursday, September 17th.

Alright, let’s talk about the water. Out at Shark Island (Cronulla), the water temp is sittin’ at 63°F, which is about 0.9°F below the long-term average for this time of year. So, pretty standard – nothing to complain about, just your typical cool spring water.

Monday afternoon the 14th is a write-off. Onshore NE breeze at 19 mph and only 2ft of S swell with a middling 11-second period. The combined energy is weak at 159 – no good, leave it.

Tuesday the 15th starts clean early with a light offshore SSW breeze at 6 mph, but the swell’s tiny at 3ft from the ENE and the period’s a short 7 seconds. Combined energy is only 79. It’s surfable but very ordinary. Tuesday afternoon gets worse – cross-off SSE wind at 19 mph and the swell drops to 2ft.

Wednesday the 16th sees a big jump in size – 10ft to 12ft of S swell with a 10-second period, and the combined energy jumps to a massive 1920 to 2129. But the wind is strong cross-off at 22-25 mph, and it’s flagged as marginal. This is expert-only territory, and it’ll be messy. Kite surfers might be interested, but for a paddle surfer, it’s a no-go.

Now, Thursday the 17th morning – this is the standout. Finally. Clean conditions, clear sky, a gentle SSW cross-off breeze at 9 mph. The swell is a solid 10ft from the S at 10 seconds, with combined energy of 2618 – that’s strong. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers. It’s a reef break, and that long-period groundswell will line up nicely here. Keep in mind, it’s only for the advanced crew – beginners need to stay well away. Crowds are possible here sometimes, so get in early.

Thursday afternoon drops off quick – swell down to 7ft, wind goes light cross-shore, and the quality falls away.

Friday the 18th is marginal at best. Morning sees 5ft of SSE swell with a light cross-shore NW wind, but it’s nothing special. The rest of the week and into the next is mostly onshore winds or weak little swells, nothing worth chasing.

There’s a small pulse on Tuesday the 22nd – 5ft of S swell, but it’s onshore NNE wind and flagged as poor. Same story for Wednesday the 23rd, with a 6ft ENE swell but onshore NE winds. Just not good.

So, to be honest, your true best bet is the morning of Thursday, September 17th. That’s the one. Clean, strong S groundswell, light offshore wind – a proper session for the experienced crew. After that, it’s a long, flat wait with onshore slop through to the end of the month.

Keep an eye on it, but don’t hold your breath for the second week.

Rusty.

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