Tongo Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s cooking at Tongo Reef.

Right out of the gate, the water is sitting at a balmy 80° – that’s a whopping 10° warmer than normal for this time of year, so you’ll be surfing in boardies for sure.

The next few days are nothing to write home about. We’ve got a weak, short-period SSE swell in the 5 ft to 5 ft range, with a period of only 8 seconds. The combined energy stays moderate (between 372 and 517) but it’s mostly a cross-off wind, so the waves will be a bit wonky and lacking power. The forecast calls it marginal, and I’d agree – not really worth paddling out for unless you’re desperate for a splash.

Wednesday the 5th sees a shift to a small SW swell at 3 ft, but the period stretches to 14 seconds, giving it a bit more shape. Still, the energy is moderate (around 530) and the wind is still cross-off – it’s clean but tiny. Thursday the 6th keeps the same trend: SW swell, 3 ft to 3 ft, with a long period (16–18 seconds), and energy is climbing into the moderate range (681 to 863). Still not a standout.

Now, Friday the 7th is where things start to get interesting. The swell is 4 ft to 4 ft from the SSW, period pushing 15 seconds – that’s a proper groundswell. The combined energy is solid (760–804), and the wind is light, 6–9 mph from the SSE, keeping it clean. The forecast says “expect very good surf conditions,” and I’m feeling it – this is your best bet early on. Tongo Reef is a reef break, so that long-period groundswell will wrap in nicely, offering some punchy, well-shaped waves. Just keep in mind, longer period means longer gaps between sets, but it’ll make paddling out easier.

Then we hit a bit of a dry spell from Saturday the 8th through to Tuesday the 12th. Swell drops back to 2 ft–3 ft, period varies, and the wind picks up to a fresh breeze (19 mph) on the 10th and 11th. The energy stays moderate but the quality is not there. It’s a gap of a few days where it’s not really worth it.

But hold on – Thursday the 13th looks promising. Swell jumps to 4 ft–4 ft from the SW, with a long period of 18 seconds. The combined energy spikes to 1418–1547, which is strong. Wind is a clean 12 mph SSE cross-off, so the waves will be well-groomed. This is a classic long-period groundswell that will work beautifully on this reef. The 14th and 15th hold similar quality, with 4 ft SW swell, 16-second period, and energy still high (1348–1378). Light winds on the 14th, too.

The 17th looks like another solid day, with 5 ft SW swell, 16-second period, strong energy (1159–1198), and clean conditions. So if you’re planning ahead, the week of the 13th to the 17th is your window.

The standout for me? Friday the 7th – it’s the first real taste of quality, and it’s backed by good conditions. The second standout is the 13th and 14th – bigger energy, long period, and that reef will handle it beautifully. Crowds are sometimes an issue at Tongo, but with these kind of conditions, it’s worth the company.

Rusty.

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