West Shore Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the menu for our local stretch of coast.

Right now, the waves aren’t exactly firing. We’ve got a bit of a lull to start. The first proper surf recommendation kicks off on Saturday the 11th of July, but honestly, it’s nothing to get too excited about. We’re looking at a combined swell energy of just (334) – moderate at best. The waves are coming in around 5 ft from the ESE with a 10-second period, so it’s a bit of a mixed bag, not a classic groundswell. The water is sitting at a cool 55°F, which feels a bit colder than normal for this time of year – that anomaly of -2°F is notable, so you’ll want a decent wetsuit. Saturday morning has a gentle offshore breeze from the SW, so it’ll be clean, but the size and energy are just alright. That afternoon the wind swings a bit cross-off, but still rideable.

West Shore Beach is the only spot on the cards, and it’s a beginner-friendly, fairly consistent beach break. It’s exposed to swell, but the optimum swell direction here is NE, and we’re getting ESE pulses, so the waves aren’t lining up perfectly. Expect crowds ‘often’, so it’ll be busy.

Sunday the 12th drops off significantly – clean small waves on the morning but only 3 ft. By Monday we’re barely scraping ankle-biters, 2 ft or less. This quiet spell hangs around through until the end of the week.

Now, the standout in the whole 16-day window is Friday the 17th of July. That morning and afternoon both look sensational. We’re getting 3 ft from the ESE, but the period jumps to a very long 15 seconds. That’s proper groundswell energy, with the combined energy reading (320) and (427) – strong stuff for the size. And here’s the kicker: both sessions are glassy, no wind ripples at all. That’s about as clean as it gets. The break will be busy, but for a glassy day with that long-period push, it’s the best on offer. Keep in mind, long-period swell like this can sometimes break a bit straight at a beach break, but for a clean, easy-going paddle, it’ll be a treat.

Sunday the 19th of July is also worth a mention – glassy again with 2 ft and a 13-second period, producing clean, lined-up waves. Nice little sessions.

Beyond that, we get a gentle offshore run on Monday the 20th, but then surf drops right off again through Tuesday and Wednesday. For this area, that blank stretch isn’t unusual.

Late in the run, around Thursday the 23rd through to Sunday the 26th July, the swell size picks up big time – 5 ft to 8 ft, so it’s pushing into expert territory. But the wind is mostly cross-onshore or onshore, and the quality drops. The guidance says it’s too big for the break in those conditions. This setup actually looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing, with that moderate to strong cross-onshore wind and decent-sized swell. Unless you’re an expert looking for a challenge in messy conditions, I’d give that a miss.

The pick: Friday the 17th of July, West Shore Beach. Glossy, long-period ESE groundswell, clean as a whistle. That’s the one to circle.

Stay stoked,
Rusty

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