Anse Bougainville Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you, this 16-day window is a tough one for Anse Bougainville. The swell is there, no doubt, but the wind just won’t cooperate. It’s a classic case of “looks good on paper, feels rough in the water.” We’ve got a solid run of SE swell, sometimes pushing into serious size, but it’s mostly pinned by a stiff onshore or cross-onshore breeze. The water is sitting at 81°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year.

The first few days, starting Sunday the 26th of July, are a write-off. You’ve got a 3 ft swell from the ESE with a short 8-second period, but the 16 mph S wind is messing it up. The wave energy is moderate (323 to 366), but with cross-on conditions, it’s just choppy and messy. Monday the 27th sees the swell bump up to 6 ft to 7 ft from the SE, and the energy climbs into the strong range (411 to 851). But the wind swings onshore, gusting to 19 mph, and it’s a full-on “poor surf conditions” call. The period is short on Monday morning (6 seconds) which is just junk.

Tuesday through to the following Sunday, the 28th of July to the 3rd of August, is more of the same. The swell sits between 5 ft and 7 ft, with moderate to strong energy (363 to 889). But the wind is relentless—SE or SSE, 16 to 22 mph, and almost always onshore. There’s a brief moment on Thursday afternoon, the 30th, where the swell drops to 3 ft but the period jumps to 16 seconds. That’s a long groundswell, which would be a dream at a point or reef, but with the wind still onshore at 16 mph, it’s just a frustrating tease. The energy is still strong (821).

Then we hit a quiet patch. Monday the 3rd of August drops to a tiny 2 ft from the S, with a very long 17-second period. The energy is moderate (552 to 563). This is a classic “long period, no height” situation. It’s not going to break properly. The wind is still onshore.

The surf picks up again from the 4th of August, but the pattern holds. Swell heights from 3 ft to 5 ft, periods from 9 to 10 seconds, energy in the moderate range (304 to 508). The wind is still an onshore or cross-onshore problem.

The real size shows up from the 6th of August. Thursday the 6th sees a 8 ft to 7 ft SE swell, with very strong energy (1277 to 1062). That’s a lot of water moving. But the wind is onshore at 19 mph. This is getting into expert territory size-wise, but the wind is just ruining the shape. The best of the size, but not the quality.

Friday the 7th of August is the biggest of the run. The swell hits 8 ft from the SE, with a period of 9 seconds, and the energy is very strong (1406 to 1225). The wind is onshore at 22 mph. That’s a powerful, churning mess. Not for the faint of heart, and honestly, not for anyone who wants a clean wave. This setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing, to be honest.

The final few days, from the 8th to the 10th of August, keep the size up (6 ft to 8 ft) and the energy strong (943 to 1133). The period improves to 10-11 seconds, which is better. But the wind stays onshore or strong cross-onshore at 22 mph. It’s the same story: size, power, but no cleanliness.

The Standout (with a warning): There’s no single day that’s a true winner. The best of the bunch, if you’re desperate, is the swell on the 7th and 8th of August. The energy is huge (over 1000), and the swell is consistent. But the 8 ft size and wind are only for experts. If you’re an experienced surfer who can handle heavy, windy conditions, there might be a few punishing waves. For everyone else? This is a stretch to watch, not to paddle.

We’ve got a solid 16 days of swell, but the wind is the enemy. It’s a long, frustrating run of “poor surf conditions.” Don’t get your hopes up, but keep an eye on the forecasts—things can change.

Rusty.

Read more