Turtles Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s look at what’s heading to Turtles.

The big one to circle on your calendar is Saturday morning, September 12. We’ve got a solid 7ft swell pushing in from the WSW with a 17-second period – that’s proper long-period groundswell, pumping with 2605 energy. Water temp is about 71°F, pretty much normal for this time of year. And the wind? Dead calm, glassy as a mirror. For an advanced reef break, this is about as good as it gets. The direction is a bit west of the ideal SSW, but with that period and zero wind, it’s going to be well overhead and lining up beautifully. Over 6ft on a reef means experienced surfers only. Expect company – this spot gets crowded, and on a morning like this, the regulars will be out in force.

After that, the wind turns ugly. Saturday afternoon goes cross-onshore and choppy. From Sunday the 13th through Tuesday the 15th, it’s a total bust: cross-onshore winds, lumpy, messy surf. The swell hangs around 6ft to 8ft but the quality is just not there. Wednesday morning the 16th offers a brief hope – light cross-on with 6ft and 14-second swell (1408 energy) – but it’s only marginal and the wind wrecks it by afternoon.

Thursday the 17th morning actually has an offshore wind (WSW, 10 km/h) but the swell has dropped to 4ft with a 16-second period, only 782 energy. It’s clean but small and weak for an advanced reef. Not worth the paddle. From there through the 22nd, it’s a long stretch of poor conditions: moderate to fresh cross or cross-onshore winds, chop, and lumpy seas. Swell stays between 4ft and 8ft but the wind just won’t cooperate.

Here’s the second true standout: Wednesday morning, September 23. Another glassy morning – SSE breeze at just 5 km/h, flat calm. Swell 6ft from the SW, 14 seconds, 1208 energy. It’s smaller than the first standout but the conditions will be clean and the reef should produce some nice shaped waves. Small enough that it might be a touch less intimidating, but still solid. Expect crowds again.

Looking further out: Thursday morning, September 24, things get big. A 10ft WSW swell with a very long 19-second period – that’s 6226 energy, serious power. But the wind is onshore at 15 mph, so it’ll be lumpy and mean. Only for the bravest experts, and even then, it’s messy. Saturday morning, September 27, sees another big cleanup: 8ft from the SW, 18 seconds, 4306 energy, with a cross-off SSE wind at 18 mph. Clean conditions, massive energy, but that’s expert territory and the wind is strong.

First week’s best is that Saturday morning, September 12. Second week’s highlight is Wednesday morning, September 23. Both glassy, both packing decent groundswell, and both will deliver for the crew who know the reef.

Rusty signing off.

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