The Pines Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get this outlook sorted. It’s a bit of a slow burner, but there’s a couple of real standout windows if you’re patient.

The Pines is a rare beast, a sheltered reef that rarely breaks, so when it does, you need to be on it. The water temp is sitting at 58°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year – nothing out of the ordinary there.

We’ve got a few days of nothing much this week. The first few days are a write-off, with poor surf and conditions that just aren’t worth paddling out for. But hold tight, because the real action kicks off later on.

Friday, 21st August is where it starts to get interesting. The swell builds to 7 ft from the SW, with a nice long 14-second period. That’s proper groundswell, and with a light breeze and clean conditions, The Pines is looking good. The combined energy is strong (2690), so there’s plenty of push. It’s a little on the bigger side for beginners, but for anyone with a bit of experience, this is your window.

Saturday, 22nd August morning is the peak for me. The swell is 8 ft from the SSW, still with that 15-second period, and the wind is light and cross-off, keeping it clean. The wave energy is very strong (2638). This is the standout session of the whole forecast. It’s a proper reef, so the long period will wrap in nicely. The afternoon gets a bit cross-shore, so get out early.

Sunday, 23rd August morning is still very good, with 6 ft SSW swell and a light offshore wind from the north, keeping it clean. The energy is still strong (2193).

After that, it drops off a bit. Monday 24th and Tuesday 25th are smaller or get messy with cross-shore winds and some rain showers. By Tuesday afternoon, the swell jumps to 10 ft, but it’s lumpy and cross-shore, making it more of a kite-surfing setup than a paddle session.

The last week of the month and into early September is a real mixed bag. There’s a big, messy 10 ft swell on Friday 28th August with strong cross-winds and lumpy conditions – experts only, and even then, it’s not inviting. The following weekend (29th-30th) is onshore and choppy.

The good news is, the run ends on a high note. Monday 31st August morning sees 4 ft SSW swell with a very long 16-second period, and a light offshore wind. The energy is still moderate (1594). Then Wednesday 2nd September afternoon is a real gem: 5 ft of long-period (19 seconds!) groundswell from the SSW, with glassy conditions. That’s a dream session for a reef break, but it’s 2 weeks out, so keep an eye on it.

The real standout? Saturday 22nd August morning. Get on it.

Rusty.

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