Shipstern Bluff Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G'day, Rusty here. We're looking at a solid 16-day window for Shipstern Bluff, but it's a real mixed bag. The first few days are a bit of a write-off, so don't rush down just yet. The real action, and I mean serious action, kicks off around the 23rd, with a couple of standout windows that'll get the heart pumping.

The water's sitting at 54°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so you'll want the thickest steamer you've got.

The first proper session looks to be Sunday the 23rd. We've got a solid 8ft SSW swell, with a 14 to 16 second period. That's a proper groundswell with plenty of muscle. The wind is swinging cross-off from the NW and WNW, which is a very good sign for keeping the face of that reef clean. It's a fairly consistent spot, but the crowd is rare, so you'll have the place to yourself. The combined energy is a powerful 3589 to 3995, so it's got some serious weight behind it. This is going to be a big, heavy day, and with the period pushing 16 seconds, expect long waits between sets. It's a reef break, so that long period will just mean more organised, grinding walls. Definitely one for the advanced crew only.

Then, Monday the 24th afternoon. The swell drops a touch to 7ft, still from the SSW, with a 14-second period. The wind is a light cross-off from the NW at 15 km/h. This is the pick of the early window. The conditions are clean, the energy is still a healthy 1453, and it's described as excellent surf for experienced surfers. This is a top-tier session if you've got the nerve.

After that, things get messy for a few days with strong winds and onshore conditions. The next real standout doesn't appear until the 2nd of September. Wednesday afternoon the 2nd sees a 12ft SW swell with a 14-second period, but the wind is a light cross-shore from the ESE. The energy is a massive 4354. This is a beast of a swell, but the cross-shore wind might make it a bit lumpy. It's a marginal call, but the size alone is worth a look for the experts.

Thursday the 3rd of September, however, is the absolute standout of the entire outlook. The morning session has a 8ft SSW swell with a 15-second period, and a moderate offshore wind from the N at 20 km/h. The energy is 2917. The afternoon holds 8ft from the SSW at 14 seconds, with a light cross-off from the ENE. Both are rated as excellent conditions for experienced surfers. The wind is clean, the swell is big, and the period is long. That's a dream day at The Bluff. The crowds are rare, so you'll be sharing it with just a handful of other souls.

So, to sum it up: the window is quiet until the 23rd. The real standout is the 3rd of September, with the 24th afternoon being a very close second. The 23rd and 2nd are also worth your time, but the 3rd is the day you want to be free.

This is Rusty, signing off.

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