Tarpits Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, listen up, it's Rusty.

We’ve got a pretty bleak stretch ahead for Tarpits. Honestly, for the next 16 days, the pickings are so slim I’m not sure you’d even call it a pick. There’s a massive gap right at the start with nothing worth paddling for, and it stays that way for the best part of a week. This spot is a beach and reef setup that’s fairly exposed, but with the conditions we’re seeing, it’s mostly a write-off.

The water is a noticeable 70°, which is about 6° warmer than it should be for this time of year, so that’s odd, but not exactly a game-changer for the surf quality.

For the first week, from Sunday the 23rd to Friday the 5th of September, the swell is tiny. We’re talking 1ft to 4ft of mostly weak, confused energy (131 to 394 on the energy scale). To make matters worse, the wind is a constant cross-onshore or onshore breeze, gusting from the WSW and SW, turning the surface to chop. The wave comment is basically “poor” or “marginal” the whole time. There’s a sniff of something on the 28th with a 19-second period, but it’s still tiny and messy. There is no stand-out here.

The only flicker of hope comes on Saturday the 5th of September morning. The wind swings around to a light cross-offshore from the ESE, and the comment shifts to “expect good surf conditions” for a brief window. The swell is still small at 2ft from the SSW with a 16-second period (an energy reading of 394). It’s a short-period groundswell, which could have some shape, but it’s a point-break/river setup type of wave, so it might be a little too straight for a beach break like Tarpits. But with that glassy look, it’s your only real chance. Expect a few others to know about it, as crowds are sometimes an issue.

Every other day, you’re looking at small, onshore junk. From the 6th and 7th of September, the swell picks up a tiny bit to 3ft, but it’s still cross-on and messy. Even the days with a bit more energy (like 406 on the 6th) are ruined by the wind.

If you’re a beginner, it’s mostly too small to be fun, and the wind will make it a frustrating paddle. For the experts, there’s nothing to get excited about. This setup, with the persistent cross-onshore wind and inconsistent swell, looks more interesting for a kite session than a proper surf.

Stay patient, lads. The forecast can change, but right now, this is a tough one.

Rusty.

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