Smugglers Cove Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for Smugglers Cove over the next couple of weeks.

Straight up, it’s a bit of a tough stretch for this spot. We’ve got a solid window of small, tricky waves and a lot of onshore or cross-onshore wind messin’ things up for the first ten days or so. The water temp is sittin’ about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The first real glimmer of hope comes on Monday, July 20, but it’s nothin’ to get too excited about. We’ve got a 5ft swell from the WNW, period around 8 seconds, and a combined energy of 443 (moderate). The problem is that wind is comin’ from the WNW at 3 mph, puttin’ it cross-on and chewin’ up the surface. It’s a marginal call at best. Tuesday, July 21, drops off hard with a 2ft to 2ft combo from the SW, long period at 16 seconds, but the combined energy drops to 296. That long period is a bit of a tease for a beach break like this – it’ll break straight and be hard to ride. Still, the wind is light and cross-shore, so it’s worth a look if you’re desperate.

Wednesday through Friday, July 22 to 24, is a write-off, with onshore winds and poor conditions. The swell builds to 4ft from the NW, but the wind is either on or cross-on, and the forecasts are all “poor surf conditions.” Not worth paddlin’ out for.

Saturday, July 25, into Sunday, July 26, is where things get a little more interesting. The swell drops to 2ft to 3ft from the SW, but the period stretches out to 21 to 23 seconds – that’s proper groundswell. The combined energy is still moderate, around 420 to 590. The wind is light and cross-on, and the reports are “marginal,” but with that super long period, the waves could have a bit of push. Best on offer for the whole week is Sunday, July 26, afternoon. The break is a beginner-friendly spot, so it’s not gonna be scary, but the long period means it’ll love a bank with a bit of shape. The rating is still only a 2/5, but the scores are a 2 out of 10, which is the best we’ll see. It’s a session for the patient.

From Monday, July 27, onward, it’s a slow grind. The wind gets a bit more cross-shore, and the swell stays small and inconsistent. Monday and Tuesday, July 27 and 28, have 2ft to 3ft swells from the SW with periods around 16-18 seconds, but the wind picks up to 9-16 mph, and the combined energy slowly drops. The conditions are poor to marginal.

The big gap comes after Wednesday, July 29, through to August 4. There’s a run of poor or marginal conditions with onshore and cross-shore winds, mostly small waves under 3ft, and the energy is weak, with values in the 200s. The only real potential is Sunday, August 2, when the wind goes clean, cross-off from the north at 9 mph, with a 5ft NW swell, period 8 seconds, and combined energy of 359. That’s the best-looking day in the whole second week. It’s still a small wave, but clean and rideable for a beginner. Monday, August 3, is similar but the wind is stronger.

Overall, the standout is Sunday, July 26, afternoon for the best quality of the first week, and Sunday, August 2, for the cleanest conditions in the second week. Don’t expect perfection, but there’s a couple of sessions worth your time if you’re keen. The crowds are “sometimes” at Smugglers, so you might have it to yourself on a Tuesday morning.

Rusty.

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