Shark Island (Cronulla) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here.

We’ve got a solid run of surf coming up at Shark Island (Cronulla), but don’t get too excited just yet—there’s a bit of a wait before the good stuff kicks in. The first few days are pretty lackluster, with small, weak energy and onshore winds. You’ll want to hold off until Sunday, the 26th of July, for the first real taste of action.

Sunday morning, 26 July is when things start to get interesting. The water temp is sitting at 63°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year. Clean, clear skies and a light offshore wind from the WSW at 6 mph will have the reef looking tidy. Swell is 6 ft from the S with a period of 11 seconds—that’s groundswell, so expect some decent shape and power. The combined energy of all swells directed here is moderate (679). It’s a solid option for advanced surfers, but nothing mind-blowing yet. Crowds are possible, so keep your eyes peeled.

Come Thursday morning, 30 July, things ramp up. The swell jumps to 8 ft from the S, period 11 seconds, with a clean offshore breeze from the SW at 9 mph. That’s a big step up—strong energy (2456 now) and the waves will be powerful. This is excellent for experienced surfers, but beginners should sit this one out. It’s a standout window for the forecast period.

Friday morning, 31 July is another cracker. Same 8 ft S swell, 10-second period, with a moderate offshore from the SW at 12 mph. The combined energy is very strong (2370), and the waves will be clean and punchy. Another top pick for the experienced crew.

Saturday morning, 1 August still holds a good 6 ft S swell, offshore winds, and moderate energy (781), but it’s a notch down from the peak. Still worth a paddle.

After that, we see a drop-off in size and quality through the middle of the week—small surf, messy winds, and not much to write home about. Keep an eye on Thursday morning, 6 August, when a 7 ft S swell with 8-second period rolls in, but the short period means it’ll be a bit crumbly. Energy is moderate (467), and it’s clean with a cross-offshore breeze, but it’s not the standout of the fortnight.

The Saturday afternoon, 8 August session brings a big 12 ft S swell, but with a cross-onshore wind and a short period of 9 seconds, it’s going to be messy and only for the brave. The energy is strong (2030), but the setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

The very end of the window, Monday morning, 10 August, is a massive 15 ft S swell with 11-second period and a cross-shore wind. Combined energy is a whopping 4479, but it’s going to be a full-on, dangerous affair. Only for experts, and even then, it’s marginal.

Overall, the best bets are the Thursday and Friday mornings, 30th and 31st July, and the Saturday morning, 1st August. Crowds are possible at Shark Island, so get in early. The rest of the period is either small, windy, or too big for most.

Rusty.

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