Turtle Cove Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, this is Rusty. I’ll level with you straight up mate – for Turtle Cove, these next couple of weeks are a bit of a rough stretch. We’ve got a long slog ahead before anything worth locking in.

Right now, we start off on Monday July 6th with some heavy rain and a fresh easterly breeze smashing the shore. The swell is a weak 3 ft out of the ESE with a short period of 4 seconds – combined wave energy is a paltry 52 – and with that onshore wind, it’s nothing but poor, choppy conditions. That sets the tone for a few days. Monday afternoon gets even uglier with a 25 mph easterly wind and 5 ft of short-period slop.

The whole week from July 6th through to July 11th is a write-off. Tuesday and Wednesday stay cross-onshore and messy. There’s a brief window on Wednesday afternoon, July 8th, where the wind swings offshore from the SSW and conditions clean up with a 3 ft east swell, but the energy is low (102) and it’s only surfable, not good. Thursday and Friday drop off into tiny, weak waves – we’re talking 1 ft to 3 ft – even with clean conditions. Crowds are ‘sometimes’ a problem here at Turtle Cove (a reef and point), but honestly, with these scraps, nobody’s fighting for a peak.

It’s not until Monday July 13th that we see a pulse of energy come through. The combined swell energy jumps to 501 – that’s moderate to strong – with a 7 ft south swell at 8 seconds. But the wind is a cross-onshore from the SSE, making it choppy and poor. That’s too big for beginners and, with the onshore wind, it’s a messy, expert-only affair if you’re desperate.

Then we hit a big gap. From July 14th through July 16th, it’s tiny again – mostly under 3 ft – and the best you get is a clean 2 ft on Tuesday morning with a light offshore from the WNW. Not worth paddling out for.

The only stretch that might save the trip is from Friday July 17th through to Sunday July 19th. It’s still not pumping, but we start seeing clean conditions with light to moderate offshores. On Friday morning July 17th, we get a 4 ft south swell (6 seconds) with a gentle offshore from the WNW – conditions are clean and combined energy is 144. Surfable but ordinary. Saturday morning July 18th offers similar: 4 ft south swell, light offshore from the west, 8-second period, and energy at 161. The pick of the whole forecast is probably Sunday morning July 19th: 3 ft south swell at 8 seconds, glassy conditions with only a 3 mph south wind, clean as a whistle, water temp sits at about 68° which is right on the money for this time of year. Crowds are possible here, but it’s the one morning that might actually feel like a surf.

After that, from Monday July 20th onward, we’re back to small, weak, onshore junk – 2 ft to 2 ft, energy in the 20s and 30s. Nothing doing.

So, to be honest mate, there’s no true standout in the whole 16-day window. If you’re hanging out for a wave, target Sunday July 19th morning – it’s the cleanest, most pleasant surf on offer, even if it’s just chest-high at best.

Stay patient, keep an eye on the forecasts, rust never sleeps but neither does the ocean.

– Rusty

Read more