Apollo Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G'day, Rusty here. We've got a 16-day outlook for Apollo Bay, and it's a proper mixed bag. There's a big slab of energy coming through, but the timing and winds are going to make you work for the good ones. The water's hanging at 58°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so you won't need the thickest steamer just yet.

The show kicks off on Tuesday the 15th and, to be honest, it's more of a spectacle than a session. A solid SW groundswell rolls in – we’re talking 12ft to 13ft with a period of 13-14 seconds – and the combined energy is pumping hard (5720 to 8215). That's a lot of water moving. But the wind is howling from the WSW and SW at 19-22 mph, making it a messy cross-off. This is big, powerful, and choppy – strictly for the experienced crew on a bigger board, and even then, expect a wrestle. The afternoon of the 15th is the pick of this initial pulse, with the best score and a hint of cleaner surf, but it's still heavy.

Wednesday the 16th backs off a touch to 10ft, but the wind stays stout. Thursday the 17th sees the swell drop under 6ft, and the afternoon turns the corner with a light offshore WSW breeze, giving us those "moderate offshore and clean" conditions. The energy is still solid (1329), so while it's cleaner, the size is dropping.

Now, for the standout. If you can get in the water on Friday the 18th, you do it. The morning has a beautiful, clear sky and a NW wind that’s just a gentle cross-off. We've got a 7ft SW groundswell with a long, powerful 17-second period. The combined energy is a meaty 3343, and the forecast is calling for "excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers." The afternoon is just as good, with a light WNW breeze and clean lines. This is the best day of the whole outlook – solid, clean, and with that long-period push that will wrap nicely around the point. It’s a bit big for beginners, but for everyone else, this is your day.

The weekend settles right down. Saturday the 19th has some chirpy 5ft to 4ft leftovers, and Sunday the 20th drops to under 3ft. Tuesday the 22nd sees another pulse of big 10ft swell, but it's getting smashed by a strong onshore E wind. That's a write-off.

After a quiet few days, the end of the outlook gets interesting again. Wednesday the 23rd offers a moment of pure glass in the morning with a NE wind of just 3 mph and a 5ft SW groundswell. That's a rare, clean window, but the swell is fading. Then, Saturday the 26th fires up another big pulse of 8ft SW swell, but the wind is a solid 19 mph cross-off. It’s not the cleanest but for the keen and the well-equipped, there could be a late arvo mission.

So, to sum it up: there's heaps of swell in the window, but you have to pick your battles. The absolute standout is Apollo Bay on Friday the 18th. It's the perfect storm of a quality, long-period SW groundswell, light winds, and clean conditions. Get on it.

Rusty

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