The Cove Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here.

Look, I’ve been staring at The Cove for a full sixteen days and, honestly, it’s a real mixed bag. There’s plenty of energy around, but it’s mostly just wind-affected junk. For most of the run, the wind is from the wrong direction – onshore, cross-shore, you name it. It’s a reef set-up that needs a clean window, and that window stays shut for a good long while. You’ll see a gap of about a week from the start where I wouldn’t bother paddling out.

First up, we’ve got a nothingburger. Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th of August are a write-off – small swell around 3ft to 4ft from the north with a short, weak period of only 6 to 7 seconds. The wind is on it like a seagull on a chip. The combined wave energy is pathetic too, sitting at 76 and 112, meaning the ocean is basically flat and messy.

The 31st of August and Tuesday the 1st of September? Wind is howling. We get a jump in swell Tuesday morning to 5ft from the west-northwest with a 9-second period and the combined energy climbs to 389 – moderate energy – but the wind is a fresh offshore from the south. That’d be clean, but the score is a hard zero. The conditions just aren’t right for The Cove. By the afternoon it’s 8ft but with a strong cross-shore and wind ripping at 28 mph. Just ugly.

Wednesday the 2nd of September sees some glimmer of hope. The morning swell is 8ft from the northwest, period is 8 seconds, energy is a solid 968, and the wind is a gentle cross-offshore. It’s listed as marginal, meaning findable waves but the tide could be a factor. That’s the first real chance you’d have to get a wet suit on, but it’s for the keen and patient.

Then it’s back to the blender for Thursday the 3rd. Strong cross-shore winds again, making a mess of 4ft to 6ft swell.

Now, here’s the standout, but it comes with a date. Friday the 4th of September. Mark it. The morning at The Cove is going to be firing for the right crew. We’ve got a 8ft swell rolling in from the west with a very long 14-second period. The combined energy is a massive 2335 – that’s strong wave energy, proper groundswell. The wind is a gentle offshore breeze from the south-southeast. That’s glassy, clean, and a long-period west swell hitting The Cove’s optimum northwest direction? That’s pure Reef perfection. But let’s be real – at 8ft and breaking over a reef, this is for experienced surfers only. Beginners stay on the sand. The afternoon turns to an 8ft onshore mess, so get your session in early and get out.

After Friday, the quality drops off. The morning of Saturday the 5th is 6ft from the west with an 11-second period and a light cross-onshore wind. Energy is still high at 886, but the wind puts a ripple on it. Sunday the 6th to the 13th of September is a slow fade-out of energy. Swell gets smaller, directions get mixed, and the wind is either onshore or cross-shore. It’s not worth the drive. One last half-chance on Wednesday the 9th and Thursday the 10th with 4ft to 5ft of clean cross-offshore swell, but it’s ordinary – just a knee-high dribble.

Best call: Friday morning the 4th of September is the only day that gets the heart rate up. The Cove will have that long-period west swell with offshore glass. For the rest of the run, you’re looking at flat spells and wind slop.

Stay safe out there.

Rusty.

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