Shooting Gallery Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Look, I’m not gonna sugarcoat it – the next couple of weeks are looking pretty grim for Shooting Gallery. We’ve got a solid run of waves on the forecast, but the wind is just not playing ball. For the first week, it’s all cross-onshore and choppy, which is a real shame because there’s some consistent energy rolling in. We’re talking weak to moderate energy, with readings in the 100s and low 200s, but it’s all getting chopped up.

The whole first week has that same story: small, messy surf. Swell heights stay mostly between 1.6ft and 3.3ft, with periods all over the place, sometimes a weak 6 seconds, sometimes a bit better at 9 or 10 seconds. But it doesn’t matter much when the wind is making a mess of it. There’s a real gap here where there’s just nothing worth paddling out for. Saturday the 1st and Sunday the 2nd are write-offs, and the trend continues right through to the 8th. On the 8th, the afternoon does see a bump in energy to 241, but the wind is up to 19 mph and it’s lumpy – that’s more kite-surfing weather than anything for a paddle board.

The second week starts to show a little more size, but the quality is still the problem. From the 11th onwards, we’re seeing more consistent 4.3ft to 5.2ft swell, and the energy readings are climbing into the 300s. But again, it’s all cross-onshore and messy. The 13th and 14th have the most juice, with 5.2ft swells and energy around 327-351, but the wind is still on it, making it lumpy and hard work. It’s not for beginners, that’s for sure – anything over 5ft is pushing it for the less experienced. And with a period of only 7 seconds, it’s not going to have any real punch or shape to it.

Honestly, there’s no standout day in this whole window. It’s a frustrating stretch. The swell is there, but the wind is just ruining it. We need a change in the wind direction – a touch of that offshore or even a glassy morning – to make this place come alive. As it stands, you’re better off finding something else to do for the next two weeks. The forecasts can change, though, so keep your eye on it. But right now, I’m calling it a flat spell with a side of onshore junk.

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