The South Jetty Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, it’s Rusty here. Let’s cut straight to it: the next couple of weeks at The South Jetty are looking pretty bleak for anyone wanting a proper wave. We’ve got a long, flat stretch ahead with nothing but small, messy dribble for the most part. The swell energy is consistently weak, mostly sitting in the teens and twenties, barely kicking up above 100 on a couple of occasions. It’s going to be a test of patience more than a test of skill.

The first week is a write-off, honestly. Thursday the 20th starts with basically nothing – 1ft of weak SE windswell with a short 8-second period, and the energy is a paltry 12. It’s glassy in the morning, but there’s just no push to it. Friday the 21st sees a bump in size to 3ft but it’s short-period ENE windswell, cross-shore winds, and a moderate chop – surfable but poor, and not worth getting excited about. Saturday and Sunday stay in the same rut, with tiny waves and onshore or cross-shore breezes. The following Monday and Tuesday offer clean conditions with some cross-offshore winds, but the swell is just too small at 1ft and the energy is weak. The rest of that first week and into the next is more of the same: a mix of tiny SW windswell and cross-onshore junk.

There’s a glimmer on Tuesday the 1st of September. The morning shows 3ft of ENE swell but with a short 5-second period, the energy finally bumps up to a moderate 109, and the wind is dead calm – glassy. It’s still not great, but it’s the first time the Jetty looks like it might actually offer a rideable wave. Even then, the period is short, and it’s likely to be pretty fat and crumbly. After that, the wind switches to a strong NE breeze, and it’s back to the grind with poor conditions and weak energy. The last day in the data, Friday the 4th, shows a bit more size at 3ft from the E, with energy climbing to 180, but the winds are cross-shore and the period is short – another day that’s more frustrating than fun.

So, there you have it. The South Jetty is a consistent break, but consistency doesn’t mean quality. There are no standout days, no real swell to speak of, and the only period with any semblance of a decent wave is the morning of the 1st of September, but even that is marginal. For the most part, this is a two-week stretch where you’re better off checking the tide charts and doing something else. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there. It’s a long, flat spell, and only the glassy morning on the 1st even slightly catches the eye. Keep your hopes low, and your board bag dry.

Rusty.

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