Yonabaru Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’m gonna level with you – the next couple of weeks around Yonabaru are a proper mixed bag, and for the most part, it’s pretty grim. There’s a long, frustrating stretch of poor surf ahead, but if you’re patient, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. The water temp is sitting at a warm 84°F, which is about normal for this time of year, so at least you won’t be freezing while you’re waiting.

Right now, and for the next week and a half, it’s all onshore and cross-offshore winds, kicking up chop and making a mess of things. The swell energy is there – we’re talking moderate to strong energy readings – but the wind is just ruining it. The wave comments are all “poor surf conditions” with zero scores. It’s a write-off.

We’ve got a real dry spell from Monday the 7th all the way through to Sunday the 20th of September. That’s nearly two weeks of barely anything worth paddling out for. The swell is small, mostly under 3 ft, and with short, weak periods. The energy drops right off by the 18th and 19th. It’s flat, clean, and hopeless.

The real standout finally shows up on Monday the 21st of September. The morning is still a bit messy, but the afternoon becomes *marginal*, with a 4 ft swell from the ESE at 15 seconds. That’s a proper groundswell, and the energy is strong. The wind is light and onshore, so it’s not perfect, but it’s a sign of life.

But the true best on offer is Tuesday the 22nd of September. Now we’re talking. The swell pumps up to 6 ft from the ESE, with a very long period of 20 seconds. That’s a massive, clean groundswell. The combined energy is extremely strong. The wind is light from the NE, making it a light cross-onshore, which is as good as it gets for this spot. The wave comment finally says “marginal” with a score of 2 out of 10, which is the best we’ll see. This is the one to circle on the calendar. For a beginner-friendly break like Yonabaru, 6 ft is right at the top end of what’s comfortable, so be aware it’ll be a bit punchy. The long period will mean clean, powerful lines, but it might be a bit straight at the beach break. The crowd is *sometimes* an issue, but with conditions this average for so long, it might be quiet.

The afternoon of the 22nd holds up with 6 ft and a 19-second period, still strong energy, and a score of 3. Still the best of the whole run.

So, to sum it up: don’t even bother until the 21st of September. That’s your window. The 22nd is the gold. Everything else is a skip. Patience, my friends.

Rusty.

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