Tankers Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s have a look at the surf picture for Tankers over the next couple of weeks. Honestly, it’s a pretty quiet period for this exposed reef break. Most days are looking like poor surf conditions, with only a few mornings that might offer a little something for the patient surfer. The wave energy stays moderate for the most part, and the winds are stubborn – almost always cross-off from the east-northeast, which keeps the surface clean but never quite offshore or glassy. There’s a long stretch of marginal to poor days, so you’ll be waiting for the standout windows.

Starting off now on Tuesday the 25th, we’ve got some wave energy around (combined swell energy 523), but the swell’s coming from the east at 5ft with a short period of 6 seconds – really just windswell with no punch. It’s poor surf, no way around it. By Tuesday afternoon, a shift to a 2ft south-southwest swell with a very long 16-second period arrives (460 combined energy), but the height’s tiny. This pattern repeats into Wednesday the 26th and Thursday the 27th – small S or SSW groundswells, periods between 14 to 18 seconds, but only 2ft to 4ft. The combined energy climbs into the 600s and 900s, but without enough size, it’s marginal at best. Winds stay cross-off in the 18–19 mph range, so it’s clean but blown-out feeling for a reef.

The best of the lot, the true standout, is Saturday morning the 5th of September. That morning shows a 4ft easterly swell (combined energy 831) with a 13-second period, and the wind’s a more manageable 12 mph cross-off from the ENE. Clean conditions, moderate wave energy, and the size starts to feel surfable – not huge, but this is the pick of the forecast for Tankers. It’s still only a marginal call, but head-high waves with clean faces and an optimum swell direction matching the S exposure? That’s your session.

Another notable is Sunday morning the 6th of September – a 3ft SSW swell with 18-second period (combined energy strong at 1240). That’s a very long period groundswell, which suits a reef like Tankers, giving shape and energy. But with the wind still cross-off at 18 mph, it’ll be bumpy, and the height is only waist-high. Worth a look if you’re keen on longer lines, but not a standout.

For most of the second week, from September 1st through the 9th, it’s a lot of the same – small S to SSW swells, 2ft to 4ft, with cross-off winds often freshening to 22–25 mph. The combined energy drops back to the 300s and 400s for many sessions, with poor surf marks. There’s a gap of several days in late August and early September where nothing’s recommendable – just waiting out the small, weak conditions.

Remember, Tankers is a consistent reef break, but this outlook has very few real opportunities. Water temp is 82°F, which is about average for this time of year, so a full wetsuit’s not needed.

Stay patient, keep an eye on that Saturday morning the 5th of September – that’s your best chance for a decent wave here.

Rusty.

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