Apollo Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Apollo Bay.

Alright, straight up, this isn’t a week for beginners looking for a cruisy paddle. The surf is going to be real for most of the run, with some solid groundswell piling in, especially towards the end. There’s a bit of a slow start, but once it kicks, it’s going to demand some respect.

The water temp is sitting at 57°, which is about normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The first real chance to get wet is Thursday morning, 20 August. Swell is a small 2 feet from the WSW, but the period is a long 17 seconds, so it’s a proper groundswell. The wind is a gentle cross-offshore, and the conditions are clean. It’s small, but it’s workable. The combined energy is moderate (277). Thursday afternoon cleans up even more with a light offshore breeze from the W, and the swell stays around 2 feet. It’s not going to get the heart racing, but it’s a tidy little window.

Now, Friday the 21st is where things start to get interesting. The swell jumps to 8 feet from the WSW, with a 15-second period. That’s a lot of water moving. The morning is clean with a cross-offshore breeze, but it’s big. Friday afternoon turns it on with a gentle offshore wind and the same 8 feet swell. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers, with combined energy strong (3689). This is a standout for the week – big, clean, and powerful. Only for the crew who know what they’re doing.

Saturday the 22nd keeps the goods rolling. Swell is 7 feet to 7 feet from the SW, with a moderate offshore wind all day. Conditions are clean, and the combined energy is still strong (2057 / 1848). Another excellent day for the experienced.

Sunday the 23rd is a beauty. Swell drops a touch to 6 feet from the SW, but the period hangs in at 14-16 seconds. The wind is offshore or light cross-offshore, and it’s clean. The combined energy is strong (1808 / 1532). This is a solid day, very surfable for intermediate to advanced surfers.

Monday the 24th sees the swell back to 4 feet. The morning is marginal, but the afternoon gets a good offshore wind, making it a clean option. Energy is moderate (652). Not a standout, but a chance to get out.

Tuesday the 25th is a mixed bag. The morning is a bit messy, but the afternoon is a ripper – 8 feet from the WSW with a 12-second period, and a light cross-offshore breeze. The energy is strong (2415). This is another excellent wave for the experienced crew.

There’s a bit of a lull mid-week, with Wednesday the 26th being poor. But then Thursday the 27th morning offers a clean 4 feet wave with a gentle offshore wind. The afternoon gets messy with a strong 22 mph wind, so stick to the morning.

Now, the real standout of the whole 16-day period is Friday the 28th of August. We’re looking at a massive 12 feet swell from the SW, with a 16-second period. The combined energy is huge (8211). The wind is a moderate cross-offshore, keeping it clean. This is a big, powerful, groundswell. It’s a serious, expert-only day. Saturday the 29th is similar, with a 13 feet swell, but the wind turns a bit cross-onshore, so it’s not as clean.

The run into the end of the month and start of September sees the size drop back. Sunday the 30th has some 8 feet to 7 feet swell, but it’s a bit onshore. Monday the 31st of August and Tuesday the 1st of September are small again, but the mornings are glassy. The best of this late period is Wednesday the 2nd of September morning, with a glassy 4 feet swell from the SW, and a 14-second period. It’s clean and calm, a nice little session.

Overall, the best on offer is clearly Friday the 21st, Saturday the 22nd, and Friday the 28th. The 28th is the biggest, but the 21st and 22nd are more consistent and cleaner. Apollo Bay is a beach and point setup, so when that big swell hits, it’s going to be powerful and focused. Crowds are possible, but with this size, it’ll thin out the pack.

Rusty.

Read more