Shida Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, and I’ve been staring at the charts for our local patch. This forecast is a bit of a slow burner, to be honest. The first week is pretty quiet, with small, ordinary waves and only a few glimpses of something decent. But hang in there, because the second half of the outlook is where the real story is. We’ve got a solid run of proper swell building, with some standout days that have me proper excited.

Let’s start with the early days. Monday the 20th and Tuesday the 21st at Shida are the first real options. Monday morning is small, just 3ft from the east with a 9-second period, and a light cross-offshore wind from the SSW. The combined energy is weak (171), so it’s surfable but nothing to write home about. Tuesday is a step up: 4ft east swell, 10-second period, and a clean offshore breeze. The energy is moderate (277), and it’s about as good as it gets in this first stretch. The water temp is about average for the time of year, so no complaints there. That’s our first little highlight.

From Wednesday the 22nd through to Sunday the 27th, it’s mostly a write-off. The swell drops off, the wind turns cross or onshore, and the energy readings are weak to moderate. There’s a mix of poor and marginal conditions, with a few moments of tiny, glassy 2ft waves on Friday morning (24th) that might tempt a log rider, but it’s not really worth paddling out for. We’re looking at a solid 5-day gap with no real recommendations.

Then the shift comes. Monday the 28th of July is when things start to get interesting. Tuesday afternoon the 28th is a genuine standout. Shida cleans up with a 5ft south swell, 14-second period, and a light cross-offshore breeze from the SE. The energy is strong (872), and the conditions are clean. For a spot that’s exposed to the south with an optimum swell direction from the SE, this is a match made in heaven. It’s not too big for intermediates, but that long period (14 seconds) means it’s a proper groundswell, so the sets will be well-spaced and powerful. Keep an eye on the tide, but this is a goer.

Wednesday the 29th and Thursday the 30th also deliver in the afternoons, with 5ft and 5ft south swells, 13-14 second periods, and clean cross-offshore winds. Energy is strong (844-830). It’s a solid run.

But the real standout, the one I’m marking on my calendar, is the first week of August. Sunday the 2nd of August is a cracker: 4ft from the SE, 15-second period, but the energy is very strong (1077-1100). The wind is offshore all day, light to moderate, so the surface will be clean. It’s a bit of a long period for a beach break, so it might wall up, but for a point or reef, it’ll be a dream. Then Monday the 3rd of August pushes up to 5ft to 6ft from the ESE, 16-second period, and that energy is very strong (1584-2287). This is getting into expert territory, especially at 6ft, but the offshore wind keeps it clean. The absolute peak is Tuesday the 4th of August morning: 8ft from the ESE, 18-second period, and the energy is off the charts at 4868. That’s a very strong, very long-period groundswell with a light offshore breeze. This is a serious swell for experienced surfers only. The waves will be big, powerful, and lined up, but it’s not for the faint-hearted.

Crowds at Shida are often a thing, so expect company when it’s good, especially on those standout days. The spot is inconsistent, so when it fires, everyone knows.

So, to boil it down: the first week is a bit of a dud, but the second week, especially from the 28th of July through to the 4th of August, has some of the best surf we’ve seen in a while. Tuesday the 28th afternoon is your first real goer, and the standout days are Sunday the 2nd and Monday the 3rd of August. Tuesday the 4th is for the big dogs only. The long-range stuff is promising, but as always, keep an eye on the charts as it gets closer.

Rusty.

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