Third Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, and I’m lookin’ at the charts for Third Reef over the next couple of weeks. Gotta be straight with you—it’s a patchy run. There are some nice windows, but a lot of choppy, cross-on conditions gumming up the works.

Kickin’ things off on Monday morning, August 17, we’ve got a real tease. Waves are a modest 3ft from the SSW with a long 14-second pulse, and the wind is glass. That’s the kind of start that gets your hopes up. It’s only a 3ft wave, but when it’s that clean, you take it. The combined swell energy is measured at 421, a moderate kick. Third Reef is a reef setup, so that long period (over 11 seconds) means the waves will have some shape, peeling nicely. Water temp is around average for this time of year, so no shock to the system.

But then, the rest of that first week gets pretty frustrating, mate. From Monday afternoon right through to the following Saturday, August 22, it’s all cross-on winds. Sizes bounce around but mostly between 1ft and 5ft, and the wind just messes it up. There’s a lot of short-period, weak swell in there too. Tuesday the 18th has a few windows but it’s choppy. Not worth paddling out for.

You get a little buzz on Sunday, August 23. By the afternoon, the wind drops to a dead calm, glassy as a mirror. The swell is a solid 4ft from the NW at 9 seconds, with a combined energy of 529 (moderate). That afternoon session looks like the first real standout of the period. Really clean waves for an intermediate-level surfer. That’s the one to circle.

The following Monday and Tuesday are flat and small again, but keep an eye on Wednesday, August 26. In the afternoon, the wind goes glassy, and we get a 2ft SW groundswell with a 16-second period. It’s small, but that long period at Third Reef will produce some fun, lined-up waves for a longboard or a fish. Combined energy is 372, so it’s weak but workable.

Now, let’s talk about the next big blast. On the 27th and 28th of August, we see some size bump up. Thursday the 27th afternoon has 4ft from the NW at 7 seconds and glassy wind—good conditions, but that 7-second period is short and weak, making it a bit crumbly. The real gem? Friday, August 28. Afternoon session: 5ft from the NW, 8-second period, and glassy wind. It’s not huge, but the combined energy is 570, a moderate, punchy little swell. That is the second standout of the forecast. A clean, 5ft NW swell at Third Reef will offer some great walls for an intermediate surfer. Crowds are listed as “sometimes,” so you might have some company, but it won’t be a zoo.

As we roll into September, the final blast is Sunday, August 31. It’s a Monday morning, actually, but that afternoon—August 31 afternoon—is the biggest, cleanest day on the whole chart. We’re looking at 4ft from the SSW, a long 16-second period, and glassy, dead calm wind. The combined energy here hits 1060, which is a strong pulse. That’s excellent surf for experienced surfers. The long period will make it a bit more critical at the reef, so you need to know what you’re doing, but it’s the best on offer by a long shot. The energy is strong, and it’s glassy.

So, if I’m picking just two standouts: Sunday, August 23 afternoon for the clean 4ft NW, and Friday, August 28 afternoon for the clean 5ft NW. The Sunday the 31st is a close third if you’re an experienced surfer looking for the biggest, longest-period swell.

Between these sessions, the lulls are long. You’ll have days of cross-on wind and small, weak surf. But with the reef’s consistency, it won’t stay flat forever.

Stay stoked,
Rusty

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