Anse Bougainville Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty, and I’ve gotta level with you. For the next 16 days, it’s a tough stretch here at Anse Bougainville. The swell is there, but the wind and conditions are just not cooperating. It’s a reef break, exposed to the swell, but the wind is relentless.

Over the next couple of weeks, we’re looking at a long run of onshore to cross-onshore winds, mostly from the SSE and SE, blowing at 15 mph to 25 mph. That’s going to keep the surface trashy. The swell hangs around from the SE, mostly 4 ft to 8 ft, and the period is short, mostly 8 to 10 seconds. That’s weak, short-period windswell, not the kind of groundswell that gets a reef firing.

The best surf on offer is honestly a non-starter. On Thursday morning, July 30th, the swell is 6 ft from the SE, but the combined energy is only 817 (moderate), and the wind is a cross-on 18 mph. It’s a write-off. The water temp is 81°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so you won’t need a thick suit, but you’ll be fighting the chop.

You’ll see the swell size bump up a bit into early August, especially on the 6th and 7th, with 8 ft from the SE and combined energy climbing into the 1200s (strong). But that’s all coming with strong onshore winds of 21 to 25 mph. The waves will be big, but lumpy and blown out. For a reef break, that’s not a good look. For beginners, anything over 5 ft starts to get heavy, and by the time it’s over 8 ft, it’s expert-only territory, but with that wind, even experts will have a hard time.

There’s a small window on the 14th of August where the wind eases to a cross-on 12 mph, but the swell drops to 5 ft and the period is still short. The combined energy is moderate (1137), but “moderate cross-onshore and choppy” is the forecast language, and that’s not a recommendation.

Honestly, with this much onshore wind and short-period swell, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. The wind is consistent, and the swell is there, but it’s not going to be clean for a wave. We’ve got a 16-day stretch with no good surf on offer. Sometimes it’s like that here. Forecasts can change, but for now, I’d say leave the boards at home.

Rusty.

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