Watermans Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, this is Rusty. We’ve got a bit of a mixed bag coming up for Watermans, a reef break that works best with a swell from the west-southwest. The water temperature is pretty much what you’d expect for this time of year, nothing out of the ordinary. The main thing to note is that the swell energy is going to be massive at times, with some truly powerful pulses rolling through. The real standout is the Saturday morning on the 22nd of August, but the good news is there are a few other windows that are worth a paddle if you time it right.

The first real call is Saturday morning, the 22nd of August. It’s glassy, crystal clear, the wind is a light breeze from the northeast at 3 mph. You’ve got a solid 7 ft swell from the west-southwest with a very long period of 17 seconds. The combined energy is a massive 2522, so there’s some serious grunt behind it. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers – the conditions are about as clean as it gets. The only downside is that crowds are often a problem here, so get in early.

The rest of that weekend and into Monday is a bit of a write-off. The wind turns onshore and cross-shore, lumping up the surface. The swell stays around 5 ft to 6 ft with periods dropping, and the energy is moderate (between 983 and 1384). It’s not horrible, but you’ll be chasing a few half-decent waves.

Monday morning the 24th of August is another glassy session with 7 ft of west-southwest swell at 14 seconds, energy at 1848. It’s clean again, but the wind is light from the southwest at 3 mph. Again, for experienced surfers only, but it’s a good one. Tuesday the 25th is a write-off with choppy onshore winds.

Now, Wednesday morning the 26th of August is a wild card. The swell is 12 ft from the west-southwest, with a period of 19 seconds. The energy is absolutely insane at 18233. But the wind is a fresh 19 mph cross-onshore, and the forecast says it's too big for this break. Only for experts, if anyone, but the conditions will be rough. Avoid it.

The next real opportunity is Thursday morning the 27th of August. The swell is still a solid 10 ft from the west-southwest, period of 15 seconds, energy at 3929, but the wind is a light southerly at 6 mph, giving clean surf. It’s excellent for experienced surfers. This is a good one.

Friday the 28th of August looks promising for morning and afternoon. The swell drops to 6 ft to 5 ft, period 13 to 12 seconds, energy moderate (972 to 668). The wind is offshore from the east-northeast and east, 9 to 12 mph, giving clean conditions. Expect very good surf. Crowds are likely, but it’s worth it.

The following week, from the 30th of August into early September, there’s a lot of solid swell in the 7 ft to 8 ft range, but the winds are often onshore or cross-shore. The standout in that window is Monday morning the 31st of August, with 7 ft from the west-southwest at 17 seconds, energy at 4026, and a light north-northeast breeze at 6 mph giving clean conditions. Excellent for experienced surfers. Also, Thursday morning the 3rd of September is glassy with 7 ft at 13 seconds, energy 1426, and calm winds – excellent again.

The rest of that second week is mostly marginal with onshore winds, but there are a few clean sessions if you look carefully. The 30th of August morning is clean with 7 ft at 16 seconds, energy 1981, and a moderate north wind. Not perfect, but OK.

The biggest call: Saturday morning the 22nd of August, glassy, 7 ft, 17-second period, huge energy, and clean. That’s the one to clear your schedule for.

Catch you on the water, Rusty.

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