Apollo Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Apollo Bay (Victoria) has some proper swell on the radar over the next couple of weeks, but the wind and size will switch things up a fair bit, so you’ve gotta pick your moments. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing unusual.

We start this Sunday, the 30th of August, with a solid SW groundswell running 6ft to 6ft. The morning is the pick with a clean, gentle offshore wind from the WSW. Good energy in the water (1350 combined energy), but this is expert territory with the period at 14 seconds—nice shape for a beach-and-point setup, though sets might come a bit spaced out. The afternoon gets a moderate cross-off breeze; still surfable but a step down.

Monday the 31st looks tidy. Swell holds around 6ft from the SW, and we get almost no wind both morning and afternoon—just a slight air, glassy feel, with the morning offshore from the west. Clean lines, with that long period (15 seconds morning, 14 afternoon) making for solid, well-shaped waves. The combined energy jumps to 1702 and 1999, indicating moderate to strong energy. Still a bit big for beginners, but experienced surfers will dig it.

Tuesday the 1st of September sees the swell drop slightly to 5ft to 4ft, but the wind becomes a fresh breeze from the NNW/NW—cross-off, not ideal. The tide and wind combo looks messy, and the energy drops off (1265 then 696). A pass for me.

Now, Wednesday the 2nd of September is a standout. The morning sees a jump to 12ft from the WSW with a 16-second period and a moderate offshore from the WNW. That’s a huge 7107 combined energy—strong, powerful, and clean. This is expert-only, no doubt. The afternoon drops a bit to 7ft, but still with the same offshore wind and a clean face. Big, long-period groundswell, so expect it to hold up well.

Thursday the 3rd of September is a wildcard. The morning has 7ft SW swell with moderate offshore wind, but the energy is solid (1798). Then the afternoon absolutely pumps—16ft from the SW, 14 seconds, 12579 combined energy, and a clean offshore wind from the west. That’s big, powerful, and only for the bravest. The score is high here.

Friday the 4th of September stays meaty with 10ft SW groundswell (16 seconds) in the morning, dropping to 8ft in the afternoon. Cross-off winds from the NW and NNW keep it clean but a bit bumpy. Still decent for experienced crew.

We then hit a bit of a lull in quality. Saturday the 5th and Sunday the 6th both have solid swell (8ft to 18ft) but strong to fresh winds—45 km/h on the Saturday afternoon from the WSW—and the forecasts flag marginal conditions. The 6th of September afternoon hits 18ft from the WSW with a fresh offshore, but the wind is 35 km/h and the energy is massive at 13370. That setup is more for kite surfing than paddle surfing, if you’re honest.

Monday the 7th through the 9th of September bring huge to extreme swell. The 7th afternoon hits 20ft from the WSW with a 16-second period and 25736 combined energy—the forecast says it’s too big for this break. The 8th tops out at 21ft (32,191 combined energy) and the 9th still has 16ft to 15ft, both mornings getting top marks for expert conditions. These are not for the faint-hearted.

From the 10th of September onward, the swell gradually winds down. Thursday the 10th has clean, moderate offshore winds with 10ft to 8ft SW swell—fun for experienced surfers. Friday the 11th is a beauty: 7ft to 8ft SW swell, glassy conditions come Friday afternoon with a light SSE breeze, and the period on the long side (18 seconds in the morning, 16 afternoon). Clean, lined-up waves with 2528 to 2700 combined energy. That’s a solid day.

The weekend of the 12th and 13th sees smaller surf—6ft down to 4ft. The morning of the 13th has a moderate offshore from the west with a 16-second period (905 combined energy). Not huge, but clean and workable. Monday the 14th fades to 5ft from the SW with a light offshore—calm, small, but clean.

If I had to pick the true standouts, I’d go with Wednesday the 2nd of September morning—12ft SW groundswell, clean moderate offshore wind, huge energy (7107). And the Thursday the 3rd of September afternoon for the brave: 16ft, clean offshore, massive power (12579). For the less extreme, Friday the 11th of September afternoon offers glassy, long-period 8ft waves with that silky feel.

Rusty.

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