Shipstern Bluff Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming down the line for Shipstern Bluff.

We’ve got a bit of a slow start, but hang tight. The first call I’d make is for Tuesday morning, the 18th of August. The water’s sitting at 54°F, which is about normal for the time of year. We’re looking at a clean 3ft SW groundswell with a very long 14-second period, and light offshore wind from the NNE at 9 mph. The combined energy is moderate at 666. It’s not massive, but with that wind and direction lining up perfectly for this reef, it’ll be tidy. For a seasoned surfer looking for a clean session on a big wave reef, this is your pick in the near term.

The rest of that week and into the weekend gets messy. Wednesday morning the 19th is clean but small at 2ft, and then Thursday through Saturday morning sees building swell but terrible winds. Saturday the 22nd is a write-off: a massive 16ft SW swell with 34 mph WSW cross-shore winds. The energy is extreme at 11185, but with near gale force winds making a mess of it, that’s only for the absolute elite, and even then, it’s nasty. Sunday the 23rd is still big and bumpy.

Things start to clean up from Monday the 24th, but the swell is a bit jumbled. However, Tuesday afternoon the 25th stands out. The wind drops to glassy conditions at 3 mph from the west, with a clean 4ft SW swell on a 12-second period. The energy is low-moderate at 401, but for a quiet, glassy session at a spot that can be wild, that’s a nice window.

Moving into the second week, the outlook is more uncertain, but a couple of dates are worth noting. Friday the 28th of August in the afternoon looks excellent for experienced surfers. We get a 7ft SSW swell with a 9-second period, but the wind is near calm from the WNW at 3 mph. The combined energy is moderate at 750, and the conditions are described as clean. That could be a real gem if it comes together.

Looking further out, Monday the 31st of August morning is another standout for experienced surfers. A 6ft SSW groundswell with a long 15-second period, light WNW wind at 6 mph, and clean conditions. The energy is strong at 1567. This is the best-looking setup in the second week, with proper groundswell and offshore breeze.

Finally, Wednesday the 2nd of September morning brings more promise for experienced surfers. A 4ft SSW groundswell, very long 17-second period, and light offshore wind from the north at 6 mph. The energy is moderate at 1049, and it’s clean. Keep an eye on that one, but remember, long-range calls are less certain.

Overall, this is a spot that demands respect and experience. The best windows are the Tuesday morning the 18th for a clean, smaller day, and the Monday morning the 31st of August for the bigger, more powerful groundswell with good wind. Don’t bother with the weekends unless you’re a madman or a kite surfer, because that big swell with cross-shore winds is more their playground.

Rusty.

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