Shark Island (Cronulla) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty. Let's have a look at what's on the table for the next couple of weeks.

Alright, we’ve got a bit of a slow start this weekend, but don’t write it off just yet. The real action is going to fire up around Shark Island (Cronulla) from Sunday morning onwards, and it gets seriously good by Monday. The water is sitting at 62°F, which is a bit colder than what we usually expect this time of year, so you’ll want that steamer on.

Let’s start with Sunday, the 19th. The morning is a bit messy with a cross-shore breeze and a 6ft east-northeast swell, but the period is a solid 11 seconds, so there’s some decent energy (1043) in the water. It’s a little marginal, but the afternoon cleans right up. The wind swings to a light cross-off, the swell drops slightly to 6ft, and the energy is still pumping (797). That’s when it starts to look proper.

Now, Monday the 20th is the standout. The morning is crystal clear with a light cross-off breeze from the west-northwest, and you’ve got a 5ft east-northeast groundswell rolling in at 10 seconds. The energy is strong (687), and the conditions are clean. This is your window. The swell direction is perfect for the reef, and with light winds, it’s going to be glassy. Crowds are sometimes a thing here, but on a Monday morning, you might get lucky. This is the pick of the fortnight.

Things back off a bit mid-week. Tuesday the 21st is small, with a 4ft swell and a light cross-breeze, but it’s nothing to write home about. Wednesday the 22nd is tiny, with a 3ft to 3ft swell, but the afternoon has a clean cross-off wind and a bit of energy (289). It’s surfable, but you’ll be working for it.

Thursday the 23rd gets interesting again in the afternoon. The swell jumps to 10ft from the south, but it’s a short 9-second period and the wind is a fresh cross-off from the south at 22 mph. The energy is very strong (1368), but that’s a big, raw swell. For a reef break like Shark Island, that’s only for experts. The morning is tiny, so don’t bother.

Friday the 24th morning is another solid call. You’ve got a 6ft south swell, 10-second period, and a light cross-off wind from the west. The energy is strong (725), and it’s clean. That’s a very good session, but it’s a Friday, so expect a few more heads out.

The second week gets a bit more mixed. Saturday the 25th morning has a 4ft south swell with light winds and decent energy (365), but it’s not the size of the earlier days. Sunday the 26th is a write-off with onshore winds, and Monday the 27th afternoon has a clean 3ft south swell but it’s pretty weak (277).

The tail end of the 16-day window has a couple of interesting pulses. On the 1st of August, the afternoon shows a big 12ft east swell, but the period is a paltry 8 seconds, so it’s lumpy and messy. The energy is massive (1402), but that’s more of a kite-surfing setup than a paddle-surfing wave. Then, on the 2nd of August, the morning looks fantastic: a 6ft east-southeast swell with a 10-second period and a light offshore breeze from the west. The energy is strong (905) and it’s clean. That’s a long-range standout, so keep an eye on it, but it’s a bit far out to lock in.

So, to wrap it up: Monday the 20th is your best bet. Get out there early for the cleanest, most consistent waves. The Sunday afternoon before that is also a solid backup. The rest of the run has some good waves, but you’ll need to pick your windows.

Rusty.

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