Winki Pop Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, and I’ve been looking at the charts for Winki Pop. We’ve got a solid run of surf coming up, but it’s a bit of a mixed bag with the wind, so you’ve gotta pick your windows.

The overall pattern is a slow build into a big mid-week pulse, then a whole lot of clean, manageable swell for the second week. The water’s sitting at 57°F right now, which is bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The first real standout is Tuesday morning (8 September). It’s early, it’s small, but it’s clean. We’ve got a 3ft SW groundswell rolling in with a long 18-second period, and the wind is a light 3 mph cross-off from the west. That’s glassy, clean, and the water’s flat. The combined energy is moderate at 1070, so it’s not a powerhouse, but for a reef and point like Winki Pop, that long period will groove in nicely. Expect some nice, lined-up waves. Just a heads-up – it’s an advanced spot, and crowds are often, so don’t expect to have it to yourself.

Then we hit a bit of a lull. Tuesday afternoon gets a bit wonky with cross-shore wind, and Wednesday (9 September) is a write-off for paddle surfing. The swell jumps to 8ft to 12ft, but the wind is screaming 19 mph cross-shore, making it a lumpy, choppy mess. The combined energy on Wednesday afternoon hits a massive 14475, which is very strong, but with that cross-shore wind, it’s more of a kite-surfing show than a paddle-in session. This setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

Thursday (10 September) and Friday (11 September) morning ease up. Friday morning is a gem – 5ft SSW swell, 14-second period, and glassy conditions with 3 mph SW wind. That’s clean, and the combined energy is 947, so it’s got some punch. Still, the swell is over 5ft, so it’s a bit much for beginners.

Saturday (12 September) morning is another beauty. 5ft SW groundswell, 15-second period, and a light 6 mph offshore from the NNW. Clean as a whistle. The energy is 1198, moderate, but the offshore wind will hold those waves up nicely.

Now, the real standout of the whole forecast is Monday, 21 September. This is a week and a half away, so it’s a long-range call, but it’s promising. We’ve got an 8ft SW groundswell with a 17-second period – that’s very long period groundswell, and for a reef and point, it’s going to be epic. The wind is a light 6 mph offshore from the WNW in the morning, glassy and clean. The combined energy is 4161, strong, and it’s an excellent forecast for experienced surfers. The swell is over 8ft, so this is for experts only. The morning is the pick, as the afternoon goes cross-shore.

There’s a gap in the middle of the second week. After Saturday 13 September, things drop off. Sunday (14 September) is tiny, 2ft, and Monday (15 September) has poor onshore wind. That’s a couple of days of quiet before the bigger swell kicks in again around Thursday 17 September.

The Saturday morning (19 September) before the big Monday is also worth a mention. 8ft SW swell, 14-second period, and a gentle 9 mph offshore from the WNW. Clean conditions, combined energy of 3472, and it’s excellent for experienced surfers. Again, over 8ft, so experts only.

So, if you’re a solid surfer, the best on offer is the morning of Monday, 21 September. For a more manageable, clean wave, Friday 11 September morning or Saturday 12 September morning are your picks. Just keep an eye on the crowds at Winki Pop – they’re often around.

Rusty.

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