Shipwrecks Bay-Peaks Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, listen up. Rusty here. We’ve only got one spot on the menu this forecast, and it’s a ripper when it’s on. Let’s get into it.

We’re looking at a big run of strong, long-period groundswell setting in from the southwest. This is serious energy, not one for the faint-hearted. The water temp is sitting at a normal 59° for this time of year, so nothing freaky there.

It kicks off on Friday the 11th of September. Shipwrecks Bay-Peaks is the only game in town, and it’s going to be a heavy one. We’re talking an 18ft swell from the southwest with an 18-second period. That’s a very long period groundswell, which means proper lines, heaps of push, but it can be a bit too straight for open beaches. This is a reef setup though, so that deep-water pulse should wrap in beautifully. The combined energy is massive at 19123, and we’ve got a fresh cross-offshore wind. The crowd factor is rare here, so you might have it nearly to yourself.

Saturday the 12th keeps the power on, with a 16ft swell and 16-second period. The energy stays in the huge range, 24360 in the arvo, with that same clean cross-off wind. It’s still heavy, but the quality is there for the crew who can handle it.

Sunday the 13th sees the swell holding at 16ft, but the period drops slightly to 17 seconds. Still a massive, solid groundswell. The wind shifts to a cleaner cross-off again by the afternoon. The energy is still in the four-digit range, around 12342. This is raw, powerful reef surfing.

Monday the 14th is where it starts to drop, but don’t be fooled. The morning has a 12ft swell out of the southwest with a 16-second period, and crucially, we get light offshore winds. That is a magic window. The energy is still strong at 6388. The report calls it excellent for experienced surfers, and I’d agree—that’s a standout session for the brave.

The rest of the week into the weekend sees the swell slowly fading from 8ft to 5ft, with clean conditions but less grunt. By the 16th and 17th, we get some onshore wind mucking it up, making it messy. The period drops, and the energy is weak. It’s not worth the paddle for this spot during that stretch.

We get another pulse building from the 18th of September. An 12ft to 13ft swell returns with a 17-second period and fresh offshore winds. The energy jumps back up to 7590. This is another window for the experienced crew, but the wind is fresh, so it’ll be a more challenging paddle.

The 19th and 20th see the swell push back up to 15ft to 16ft, with moderate to fresh cross-off winds. The energy stays high, but the cross-shore component on Saturday arvo means a bit of chop. It’s still big and heavy, so no beginners here.

The 21st of September offers another clean session with the swell at 13ft and the wind going offshore in the afternoon. The energy is still solid at 4178. The report calls it excellent for experienced surfers, and it’s another one to circle on the calendar.

By the 22nd, things drop off hard to 6ft with weak energy and cross-shore winds. It goes quiet until the 23rd when a new 8ft, 18-second period groundswell appears in the afternoon with clean cross-off wind. That’s a notable long-period pulse.

Then, a second week standout: Thursday the 24th of September. We get a 13ft southwest swell with a 16-second period, and gentle to moderate offshore winds all day. The energy is strong at 8630, and the report says excellent for experienced surfers. That’s the best on offer for that second week. The morning will be glassy.

After that, the wind turns against us from the 25th, with onshore flow chopping up a dropping 12ft to 8ft swell. Not worth the drive.

So, the standout is Shipwrecks Bay-Peaks on Monday the 14th of September for that window of offshore wind with a still-powerful 12ft, 16-second groundswell. The second standout is Thursday the 24th of September for a similar vibe with a bigger 13ft swell and clean offshore winds. This is a shallow reef at low tide, so it’s expert-only territory when it’s this size.

Stay safe out there.
Rusty.

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