Apollo Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, and I’ve been staring at the charts for our little corner of the coast. We’ve got a decent run of swell coming through, but it’s a bit of a mixed bag with the wind. The standout is going to be a serious pulse of energy that’ll have the experienced crew grinning from ear to ear, but there’s a long wait for it.

The first proper surf kicks off on Friday the 17th of July. Early on, we’ve got a solid 7ft swell from the SW, with a very long period of 16 seconds – that’s proper groundswell delivering some serious energy (2033). The wind is a light cross-off from the NNW at 3 mph, keeping things clean. This is for experienced surfers only, as it’s a powerful wave. By Friday afternoon, the wind swings to a glassy offshore from the SW, and the swell drops to 6ft, still with that 16-second period (1654). It’s still serious, clean, and powerful.

The water temperature is sitting at 58°, which is about average for this time of year, so just the usual wetsuit.

Into Saturday the 18th, the swell backs off to 4ft in the morning (639), still from the SW with a period of 14 seconds. The wind is light cross-off, so it’s clean, but less powerful. Saturday afternoon sees a drop to 4ft (451) with glassy conditions – a good time for the less experienced to get amongst it. Sunday the 19th has small 3ft swell (330) and more glassy conditions, perfect for a longboard if you’re itching for a paddle.

From Monday the 20th through to Thursday the 23rd, the swell hovers between 2ft and 4ft, with periods varying from 12 to 16 seconds. The energy is low to moderate (217 to 530). The wind is mostly cross-off, keeping things clean, but it’s nothing to write home about. A noteworthy change comes on Thursday the 23rd, with a 6ft SW swell (1480) and a 14-second period, pushed by a gentle offshore from the WSW. This is a return to quality, with "excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers."

Now for the big one. Friday the 24th of July is the absolute standout. The morning brings a massive 16ft SW swell with a 14-second period, and the combined energy is a staggering 12756. The wind is a gentle offshore from the W, keeping the face clean. This is "exceptional surf conditions for expert surfers" only – absolutely not for anyone who isn’t confident in big, heavy water. The afternoon holds at 15ft (9884) with the same offshore wind. This is a serious, serious swell.

After that big pulse, the surf settles back down. Saturday the 25th has 6ft (1074) with a cross-off wind, and Sunday the 26th sees 4ft (701) with a clean offshore. The energy is moderate. Monday the 27th brings back a 6ft swell (1289) with a cross-off, but Tuesday the 28th kicks up again with a 13ft SW swell (10317) and a strong cross-off wind – this is big, but the wind is choppy, making it less appealing. By Wednesday the 29th, the swell is 6ft (1047), but a strong offshore wind of 25 mph will make it hard to paddle into.

The last few days of the month and into August see a run of smaller, less clean surf, with a final spike on the 31st of July with a 4ft, 18-second period swell (1340) and a moderate offshore wind, giving one last shot for experienced surfers.

So, the pick of the fortnight is without a doubt Friday the 24th of July. If you’re an expert, that’s your day for the biggest, cleanest, most powerful waves. The next best is the first Friday and Saturday (17th and 18th) for a powerful, clean groundswell that’s a notch down in size. For the rest of the crew, the glassy days on the 18th and 19th will be the most fun.

Keep your eyes on the horizon, and I’ll see you in the water.

Rusty

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