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Cactus Beach
Beach·South Australia·Australia·
Field notes
Surf beach near Penong known internationally for waves; the gutters off the main point also hold mulloway and salmon. Soft-plastics and pilchards through gutters on a calm dawn; primarily a surfing destination.
Current conditions
Wind
11.6 kt SSW
Gusts 15.2 kt
Waves
1.8 m
Period 9.6 s
Swell
1.8 m
Period 7.9 s
Sea temp
18.6°C
Air 17.1°C
Next 12 hours
13:00
11.6 SSW
1.8m
14:00
11.5 SSW
1.8m
15:00
11.2 SSW
1.8m
16:00
11 SSW
1.8m
17:00
10.9 SSW
1.9m
18:00
10.4 S
1.9m
19:00
9.6 S
1.9m
20:00
9.1 S
1.9m
21:00
8 S
1.9m
22:00
6.7 SSE
1.9m
23:00
6.1 SSE
1.8m
00:00
5.5 SSE
1.8m
Tides
Nearest BOM tide station: Port Eyre (Fowlers Bay) ↗ (26.3 km · secondary)
We don't predict tides on-site — BOM's published tables are authoritative.
BOM · Upper West CoastIssued at 9:30 pm CST on Tuesday 19 May 2026
Situation. A high pressure system over SA will remain dominant as it slowly moves east and into the Tasman Sea on Friday. A cold front will moves across the Bight on Saturday.
Tuesday 19 May until midnight. Winds: South to southeasterly below 10 knots. Seas: Below 0.5 metres. Swell: Southwesterly 2 metres. Weather: Mostly clear.
Wednesday 20 May. Winds: Variable about 10 knots becoming north to northeasterly 10 to 15 knots in the morning then tending east to northeasterly in the late afternoon. Winds reaching up to 20 knots offshore in the late evening. Seas: Below 1 metre. Swell: Southwesterly 2 metres. Weather: Cloud clearing.
Thursday 21 May. Winds: North to northeasterly 15 to 20 knots tending east to northeasterly in the afternoon. Seas: Around 1 metre. Swell: Southwesterly 1.5 to 2 metres, decreasing to 1.5 metres during the afternoon. Weather: Mostly sunny.
Friday 22 May. Winds: Northeasterly 15 to 20 knots tending northerly during the morning. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres, decreasing to 1 metre during the evening. Swell: Southwesterly 1.5 metres, increasing to 1.5 to 2 metres during the afternoon or evening. Weather: Cloudy. Upper West Coast: Fowlers Bay to Elliston
Source: Open-Meteo Marine + ECMWF (15-min cache) · BOM (1-hr cache). Not for navigation.
Sun & moon
Today
Sun↑ 07:24↓ 17:49
Moon↑ 10:01↓ 19:52
PhaseWaxing crescent 10%
Best windows
- Dawn06:58 – 08:24
- Dusk16:49 – 18:15
Tomorrow
Sun↑ 07:25↓ 17:49
Moon↑ 11:01↓ 21:02
PhaseWaxing crescent 18%
Best windows
- Dawn06:58 – 08:25
- Dusk16:49 – 18:15
Best windows combine civil twilight with the hour either side of sun transit — the universal low-light feeding window most species respond to. Moon phase influence is folkloric; full and new moons coincide with the strongest tide swings.
What's biting
Recent reports from the community. Sign in to log your own catches.
Access & logistics
Spot type
Beach
Region
South Australia, Australia
Fishing style
beach fishing, surf fishing and land-based fishing
Structure
Typically holds gutters and holes — work the structure for holding fish.
Licence
Recreational fishing licence may apply — check the South Australia fisheries regulator before fishing.
Closures
Always confirm current marine park / closure status and seasonal bag limits.
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