The Trough Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, mates, Rusty here. Let’s break down The Trough. Gotta be straight – it’s a flat spell and a half.

We’re looking at a long stretch of nothing special. The first wave worth paddling for? Well, there’s barely a whisper of energy until the end of the run. The bulk of the next two weeks is a bust. The surf just isn’t there. The Trough is a beach and reef setup, and it’s fairly exposed, but it’s getting nothing from the swell window. The wind is mostly a problem too – cross-shore and onshore breezes making a mess of what little bump there is.

For the first few days, right through the 8th of August to the 11th, it’s junk. Waves are tiny, under 3 ft, and the wind is a fresh cross-shore (15-25 mph) that’s killing any chance of a clean face. The energy is weak, with a combined energy reading of just 15 to 82. Don’t even bother.

Then we get a bit of a pulse on the 12th of August – Wednesday morning sees a 6 ft swell from the WSW, but the wind is onshore and strong. The energy jumps to 237 – that’s moderate wave energy – but it’s messy. That’s about the only size in the whole outlook. By the afternoon, it’s dropping and still onshore. The Trough needs a WSW direction to work best, and it’s getting that, but the wind is the villain.

The middle of the month, from the 13th of August all the way through to the 19th of August, is a total washout. Waves are knee-high at best, often less than 2 ft, and the energy is negligible (down to 1). The wind does go light and glassy on the 18th of August, but there’s no swell to ride. It’s a ghost town.

Finally, on the 19th of August, Wednesday morning, a little 4 ft N swell pops up, but the wind is a cross-shore again. The afternoon sees a 5 ft swell, but it’s cross-onshore and choppy. The energy is moderate (129), but the quality is poor. The Trough is just not cooperating.

The last few days of the forecast, from the 20th of August onward, the swell dies again. It’s all under 2 ft, with weak energy. The wind does turn clean and offshore on the 21st of August, but the waves are too small to matter.

The honest truth: There is no standout. There is no “best on offer.” The only size is on the 12th of August, but it’s blown out. If you’re a beginner, the 6 ft swell on the 12th is over your head, especially with the wind. For the experts, the wind is too bad. Honestly, with that strong wind and the beach-and-reef setup, the Trough is looking more interesting for kite surfing than a paddle session.

Stay patient. The water temp is about 57° here, which is normal for the time of year, but that’s cold comfort with no waves.

Rusty.

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