Shark Island (Cronulla) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the menu for Shark Island (Cronulla) over the next couple of weeks.

You know what, it’s a bit of a slow cooker this forecast. We’ve got a lot of flat, windy, or messy days to sit through before the real action shows up. The water is currently sitting at 62°, which is a touch colder than average for this time of year – you’ll want a decent steamer if you’re paddling out.

The first few days are a write-off, honestly. Sunday the 2nd starts with a small, weak 5ft SSE swell but it’s getting chopped up by a cross-shore breeze. Not worth the paddle. Monday and Tuesday are tiny, with waves barely cracking 1ft. We’re looking at a gap of nearly three days with nothing worthwhile.

Wednesday the 5th sees a bit of a lift – a clean 3ft S swell with a light offshore wind in the morning. It’s ordinary, but it’s an option for a quick dip if you’re desperate. Thursday the 6th morning shapes up a bit better: 5ft from the south, clean with a cross-offshore breeze, and the energy is picking up (288). That’s probably the first proper chance to get a wave.

But the real standout, and I mean the only one worth circling on the calendar, is the morning of Friday the 14th of August. That’s a big, solid 10ft S swell with a clean offshore wind. The energy is pumping at 2695, which is serious grunt. This is for experienced surfers only – over 8ft is expert territory. The swell direction matches the optimum from the south-east, so the reef should handle it well. Expect it to be powerful, with long lulls between sets. It’ll be a crowd, though – this spot gets busy when it’s on.

If you miss that, the Saturday morning (15th of August) is even bigger at 12ft from the SSE, with a longer period of 12 seconds. The energy is massive at 3182. That’s raw, deep ocean groundswell. Again, experts only. The wind is light and cross-offshore, so it’ll be clean, but that long period can make it a bit straight at the take-off. Still, for the crew that knows the reef, this is the one.

Everything after that drops off. The second week (16th and 17th) has some smaller, chop-affected swell and onshore winds. Not worth the drive unless you’re desperate for a salty rinse.

So, to sum it up: suffer through the flat and funky early days, then lock in Friday 14th or Saturday 15th of August for the real deal. Bring your big-wave board and your patience.

Rusty.

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