Swabbyland Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. The next couple of weeks are looking pretty grim for a proper surf, I won't lie to you. We’ve got a long stretch of small, weak, and often messy swell that’s going to test your patience. The first real window of anything with a bit of punch doesn't show up until the second week, and even then, it’s going to be a wild card.

The only spot on the map is Swabbyland (Big Island), a reef break that’s exposed to the south. It’s an inconsistent one, so you’ve got to be ready to wait for the sets. It’s also an intermediate spot, so not for the faint of heart when it does turn on.

The opening days are a write-off. Tuesday the 4th has a tiny 1ft SSW swell but it’s crossed up and messy, with terrible energy readings (181). Wednesday the 5th is slightly cleaner but still just ankle-biters. The whole first week, through the 10th, is really just a lot of small, weak swell (94 to 463) with cross-shore winds. It’s the kind of surf that gets you all dressed up with nowhere to go. The water temp is 81°, which is about average for the time of year, so at least you won’t be freezing while you’re sitting there wondering where the waves are.

We see a bump in energy on Saturday the 8th, with a reading of 552, but the wind is up and the swell is still small. Then things start to build a little. The 12th and 13th see the south swell start to fill in, with wave heights around 3ft to 4ft and energy readings jumping into the 900s and even hitting 1037. The period is a proper 16-18 seconds, which is a long-period groundswell. This is where Swabbyland could start to show its reef character. The wind is cross-off, so it could be clean. It’s still not big, but it’s the best we’ve seen.

Then we get to the real standout – the 17th and 18th of August. That’s when a proper easterly swell builds in, pushing 8ft to 8ft. The energy readings are massive, hitting 1332. This is a strong, powerful swell. But here’s the catch: the period is only 9 seconds, which is short-period windswell. That’s not ideal for a reef like this. It’ll be powerful, but it could be a bit unruly and crumbly. Plus, with 8ft surf, this is getting into expert-only territory. This is well over the 8ft mark for the keeners, but for most of us, it’s going to be a beast. The wind is still a strong cross-off, so it might be clean, but it’s going to be a battle.

The 15th and 16th also have some size, with 6ft to 6ft easterly windswell, but it’s still that short period and looks pretty average. Honestly, for the majority of this outlook, the setup looks more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer, especially during that second week when the wind is howling and the waves are fat and crumbly.

So, plan your time. The first week is a complete blank. The best on offer is that window on the 12th and 13th with the stronger south groundswell. Keep an eye on that. The big easterly stuff on the 17th and 18th is promising, but it’s a long way out, so don’t book your flights yet. It’s a fickle spot, this one, but when it lines up, it’ll be worth it.

Rusty

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