Apollo Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, this is Rusty.

We’re looking at a solid run of surf for Apollo Bay, kicking off right away this Thursday afternoon and rolling through the next couple of weeks. The opening swell is a big one, with a long-period groundswell that’s got plenty of grunt.

The best waves of the whole stretch are on Thursday 13th and Friday 14th of August. Thursday afternoon sees a 10ft swell from the southwest, with a very long 16-second period and a combined energy reading of 3673 (moderate-strong). A steady offshore wind keeps things clean, though this is only for experienced surfers – too big for beginners. Water temperature is 57°, about average for this time of year. Friday morning stays solid with 8ft southwest swell and the same long period, still offshore and clean. By Friday afternoon it goes cross-offshore, still good but not as glassy.

Saturday 15th August morning is pure magic – glassy conditions with a light northwesterly breeze, and a clean 7ft southwest swell. That’s your standout morning for a more relaxed session if the bigger days feel too meaty. Afternoon gets a bit of a southerly cross-breeze, but still surfable.

From Sunday 16th through Tuesday 18th, the swell drops away quickly and the wind turns onshore or cross-onshore, so conditions go poor. That’s about three days of dud surf.

Things start to improve again from Wednesday 19th, but it’s only tiny knee-high leftovers for a few days – not worth paddling out for unless you’re desperate.

Now, looking further ahead, there are two more standout pulses. On Sunday 23rd August, a big 12ft southwest swell rolls in with a 16-second period, and fresh offshore wind keeps it clean. That one’s got a combined energy of 8778 (strong) – a serious day for the experienced crew. Then on Monday 24th August afternoon, a 15ft southwest swell arrives, though with a shorter 13-second period and combined energy of 8203 (strong). Offshore wind again, but that size is pure expert territory.

Heading into the second week, the 26th of August morning shows a massive 16ft southwest swell with a combined energy of 15,448 (very strong). That’s the biggest of the whole outlook, but with fresh cross-offshore winds it’ll be a wild, powerful day for experts only. Later in the week, the 28th of August afternoon brings a 7ft southwest swell with a 19-second period (very long) and solid offshore winds – quality waves for those who can handle the long lulls between sets.

Apollo Bay handles southwest swell well, being a beach and point setup. Keep in mind, with these long-period swells (especially anything over 15 seconds), the waves can wall up at the beach breaks, but the point here should offer some nice lines. The spot can get crowded sometimes, so expect company on the standout days.

So in short: the first Thursday and Friday are your best bets for early action, Saturday morning for the glass, and then keep an eye on the 23rd, 24th afternoon, and 28th afternoon for more heavy-hitting sessions. Stay safe out there.

Rusty

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