Third Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.

Look, I’m gonna be straight with you – the next 16 days are a bit of a mixed bag at Third Reef. We’re looking at a window that starts clean but small, then gets blown out by a messy westerly swell, before finally tidying up again towards the end. There’s no one single day that’s a total standout, but Friday afternoon offers a real gem if you’re patient.

The first bit of action kicks off Friday afternoon, August 7th. It’s small, with waves around 1 ft from the SSW, but the period is a long 18 seconds, so it’s got some proper groundswell energy to it (292). The wind is glassy from the West, and the water’s sitting at 56°, which is about normal for this time of year. For a Friday arvo session, it’ll be clean and fun on the longboard.

Then we hit a rough patch. From Saturday, August 8th, right through to the end of Monday, August 17th, it’s mostly a no-go. The wind turns cross-onshore and stays that way for days, chopping up a rising swell that pushes over 7 ft at times. This isn’t paddle-surfing weather; with that strong cross-shore wind and those big, short-period NW waves, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. The energy gets intense (hitting over 1500 at one point on Tuesday the 11th), but it’s just not clean.

Things finally start to calm down around Thursday afternoon, August 13th. The swell drops to 5 ft from the NW, with a 9-second period, and the wind goes glassy again. The combined energy is still moderate (594), but it’s the first clean, surfable wave we’ve seen in nearly a week. Conditions are rated as very good, so this is a solid option for a late session.

The run of poor conditions continues, but Wednesday, August 19th, shakes things up. We’ve got a new swell filling in from the WNW and NW, running 4 ft to 5 ft with a longer period of 13 seconds. The energy is strong (over 1100), and the wind is lighter. It’s not perfect, but it’s the best looking mid-range swell. The direction is close to the optimum WNW, so the reef should handle it well.

Finally, the last chance is Saturday afternoon, August 22nd. The swell drops right back to 2 ft from the SSW, with a 14-second period. The wind goes flat calm, glassy. It’s a tiny, clean finish to the outlook. For a calm, quiet end-of-week surf, it’s a nice one.

So, if you’re picking a session, the Thursday afternoon the 13th is the best balance of clean conditions and decent size. For a bit more power, keep an eye on Wednesday the 19th. Crowds are possible at Third Reef, so get in the water early.

Rusty.

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