Shipstern Bluff Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cooking for the next couple of weeks down at the Bluff.

First things first, we’re talking about Shipstern Bluff (Tasmania). This is a serious, advanced-only reef break. The water is sitting at 56°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so the wetsuit might feel a little more forgiving than usual.

The opening window is Thursday the 9th with a clean 3ft SSW swell. The wind is glassy, and the combined energy is pumping at 1378. It’s excellent for the experienced crew, but this is a spot that doesn’t suffer fools. The crowd factor is rare, so you’ll likely have it to yourself, but remember, it’s fairly consistent here, not a guarantee.

Heading into Friday the 10th, we’ve got a slightly bigger 5ft SSW swell with a 16-second period. The morning starts with a nice offshore breeze, keeping things clean. The energy drops a bit to 933, but it’s still very good surf. The afternoon cleans up again with a 4ft SW swell and light offshore wind.

Saturday the 11th is a write-off. The wind is howling offshore at 19 mph, but the swell has dropped to 3ft and the energy is weak (318). The wind is too strong for the size, making it a skunk day.

Sunday the 12th is also poor. The swell is 6ft, but it’s a short-period wind swell (5 seconds) with a messy cross-offshore wind. It’s a no-go.

The real action, and the standout of the whole forecast, hits Monday the 13th and Tuesday the 14th. Monday morning sees a 6ft SW groundswell with a 16-second period and a serious energy reading of 1869. The wind is cross-off, but it’s still clean. By Monday afternoon, the swell bumps to 8ft, and the energy jumps to 2429. This is big, powerful, and only for the experts.

Tuesday the 14th is the biggest day of the run. A massive 12ft SSW swell with a 17-second period and an insane energy reading of 6874. But—and this is a big but—the wind is smashing in from the WSW at 28 mph, making it a strong cross-onshore mess. The quality is poor despite the size. This setup would be more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. Don’t even think about it.

The swell drops back down through the middle of the week. Wednesday the 15th has an 8ft SSW swell, but it’s still a bit lumpy. Things start to look better again on Thursday the 16th afternoon with a clean 4ft SW swell.

The next true standout is Saturday the 18th. The morning is magic: a 5ft SW groundswell, 16-second period, clean offshore wind from the NNW at 16 mph, and a solid energy reading of 1198. The conditions are excellent for experienced surfers. This is your best bet for the second week.

After that, the swell fades. Sunday the 19th and Monday the 20th offer smaller, clean waves (4ft to 3ft) with offshore winds, good for a session if you’re patient.

The last big pulse for the forecast is on Thursday the 23rd and Friday the 24th. The 23rd has an 8ft SSW swell with a 17-second period, and the energy is a whopping 3935. The wind is light, but it’s a cross-on/ cross-shore situation, so it’s a bit messy. Still, for the hardy, it’s a lot of water moving. Friday the 24th morning looks much better: a 5ft SW swell with a clean cross-offshore breeze. That’s a solid session.

So, for the best on offer: Thursday the 9th for the glassy start, and Saturday the 18th for the perfect offshore conditions with a solid groundswell. The big stuff next week is for the brave and the batshit crazy only.

Rusty.

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