Which cameras are worth looking at in WA anyway?
Good to dribble a bit looking at east coast cameras occasionally when we have howling off/onshore winds here.

The shark island cam was great entertainment last year when that ship was stuck on the reef.

As for surf cameras, when I read the thread title I thought you were referring to GoPros.

Thing with cameras is you are not at the break when the waves are there, some times all the elements align for an hour or two, if you are some distance away, the waves you saw on the camera in your study are all but gone, or the wind has come in (which guys in the know would have picked anyway!)

Same with fishing reports, happened already, you missed out!

Also cameras don't work in the dark, scoring early morning sessions is all about reading the elements and being prepared, scored soooo many session this winter like that.

In saying that I certainly wont be rushing out to put a tutorial on how to read graphs and the local conditions on the net ha ha

Most cameras over here don't really give you that much of a clue....the points are pretty good,but our beaches and certain other ones are very misleading thank fark. I check the ones in vicco on a big swell way more than looking at them here

I find the cams useful if you dont live right at the beach and dont have a wagon to put a couple of boards in..it can help to see what size the swell is and then choice of stick.
Also to see what your mates are getting when they bulls*#t ya !

^^ Said they turned them off at night..
Last night? ,,, JB,, time differences correct ?

Surf cams, meh. My local cam saves me driving five ks and cancels out one break but also lets me know which one to go to, just the picture alone. Their forecast are crap so I don't bother but I like the cams.

Tom

I try to surf a first light so there is no vision on the cameras. so not fussed by them really.They only torture me during the day when I'm at work and it's pumping and I can't get out.

If the cameras look good then don't go there as every Tom, Dick and Harry will be there.

thomas11 said..

Think someone needs to clean lens a bit more often, especially after a strong onshore.
They are good for a quick visual condition check, and the everyday punter who is in-experienced at reading current weather data.
But I would have thought the more experienced surfers would be able to read the current wind/swell conditions and make a call.
Im 99% sure the experienced surfers wouldn't be surfing where these cameras are set up anyway as they tend to be in punterville USA.

Agree with the lens cleaning especially after a NE has blown all day.

Swell can jump/drop overnight and if you ride different sized boards I find it good the help deceide which stick to take...Coastal watch have got us by the short & curlies now with the 30 site visits/month for nix..have to sign up for $78/year subs to view with better options..But, when it comes down to value = $1.50/week for the service=cheap.