Turtles Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, let’s get into it. This is Rusty, and I’m lookin’ at the next couple of weeks for Turtles. It’s a consistent reef break, exposed to the swell, and it’s gonna be workin’ nearly every day, but the wind is gonna be a constant factor. The water temp is sittin’ around 81°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year, so no drama there.

The overall pattern is a persistent, moderate to fresh cross-offshore wind from the SE. That’s a tricky wind direction for Turtles because it’s a cross-off, which can keep the surface clean but makes the takeoff a bit bumpy and the wave a bit sectiony. The swell is there, but the forecast scores tell me it’s more about quantity than quality. The combined swell energy is strong, with values in the thousands (1024 on Saturday morning, climbing to over 2000 by Sunday and Monday) showing there’s plenty of power in the water, but it’s not translating into epic conditions.

The best window is actually the first few days. Saturday, August 29th kicks off with a 5ft SSW swell, but the wind is a fresh 16 mph cross-off. It’s doable, but not a standout. Water temp is 81°. The energy is 1024, moderate.

Sunday, August 30th sees the swell pulse up to 5ft from the S, but the wind is still 12 mph cross-off. The energy jumps to 2113, and the period is 13 seconds, giving it some real grunt. This is a solid option, but the wind is the limiter.

The real standout, the one I’d be circling on the calendar, is Monday, September 1st. The swell is building to 6ft from the SW in the morning, climbing to 6ft in the afternoon. The period is a long 18 seconds, which is proper groundswell. The energy is massive, 2235 in the morning, ramping to 2485 in the arvo. This is a lot of water moving. The catch? The wind is still a fresh 19 mph cross-off from the SE. It’s not clean, but the power is undeniable. For a surfer who knows the reef, this is the best size and energy of the whole run. It’s an intermediate to advanced session.

From Tuesday, September 2nd, the swell holds around 7ft with that long 17-18 second period, so the power is still there, but the wind picks up again, making it a battle. The energy is in the 2900s, which is very strong. This is expert territory at that size, with the wind making it a real handful.

After that first week, the swell drops a bit and the story is the same: persistent SE cross-off wind. The mornings of the 4th and 5th of September are poor, with energy dropping below 800. It’s just not worth paddling out for the wind. We get a small reprieve on the morning of Tuesday, September 8th, with a 3ft SSW swell, but a 19-second period and a cross-off wind. The energy is low (689), but the long period on a small wave at a reef can be fun for a sneaky session.

The second week, from the 9th to the 13th of September, sees another pulse of swell. We’re looking at 4ft to 7ft SSW swell with periods of 16-17 seconds. The energy is back up in the 1000-2000 range, so the power is there. But the wind remains the same story: a fresh to strong cross-off from the SE. It’s not a clean, glassy, or offshore day in the entire 16-day window. This is a stretch of consistent, powerful, but wind-affected surf. For the experienced guy who can handle a bumpy takeoff and a shifting line, there’s plenty of wave to ride. For the beginner, it’s too big and too windy. This is a spot for the local crew who know the lineup.

Signing off, Rusty.

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