38 Line Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, it’s Rusty here. I’ve had a good look at the next 16 days for 38 Line, and honestly, it’s a tough start. We’re staring down the barrel of a long, flat spell with almost nothing to get excited about until the very end of the month. The water temp is sitting at 76°F right now, which is much warmer than usual for this time of year – a bit of a tropical feel.

From Saturday 18 July right through to Thursday 30 July, the surf is basically non-existent. Day after day of tiny, weak dribble – most of it under 2ft, with periods as short as 2 to 6 seconds and combined wave energy barely registering (often single digits). You’ll see a few glassy mornings, like Sunday 19 July with a 2ft east-northeast swell and no wind, but the energy is only 24, and the period is 5 seconds – it’s just not enough to push anything rideable. This is a real dry spell, and it’s normal for this area when the swell window goes quiet.

Then, finally, things start to change on Friday 31 July. The morning shows a 2ft swell from the southeast with a 10-second period, but the cross-onshore wind from the north-northeast at 9 mph chops it up – still poor. The afternoon, though, lifts to a 5ft north swell with a 6-second period and combined energy hitting 260 – still moderate but messy with onshore winds.

The real standout arrives on Saturday 1 August. The morning brings a 8ft northeast groundswell with a 10-second period, and the combined energy is a solid 1175. The wind is cross-off from the north-northwest at 19 mph, keeping it clean. This is big, powerful stuff – 8ft is expert territory, not for the faint-hearted. By the afternoon, it’s even bigger: 10ft from the northeast with an 11-second period and energy rocketing to 2664. The wind stays cross-off at 19 mph, and the conditions are clean, but the swell is predicted to be too big for this break. This is a serious, heavy day – only for the most experienced crew.

Sunday 2 August backs off nicely. The morning has a 5ft northeast swell, 10-second period, combined energy of 411, and the wind is light cross-off from the southwest at 6 mph – clean and good. The afternoon drops to 4ft from the northeast, 9-second period, energy of 208, and the wind goes offshore from the west at 12 mph, moderate breeze but clean. This is the best on offer for the whole run: solid, manageable groundswell with offshore winds.

So, to sum it up: don’t even bother paddling out until the end of July. The one true standout is Sunday 2 August – a day of fun, clean waves for intermediate to advanced surfers. Saturday 1 August is for the experts only, if you’re brave enough. Keep an eye on the long-range call – it’s promising, but still a week and a half away.

Rusty.

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