Apollo Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, and I’ve got a good look at what’s coming up for Apollo Bay over the next couple of weeks. This is a proper run of solid groundswell, but it’s not all smooth sailing. We’re talking a long period, south-west groundswell that’s got some serious grunt behind it, so the energy is strong (checking in at 14904) for the first pulse. The first recommendation kicks off on Wednesday, September 9th.

Right off the bat, the water temp is sitting about average for this time of year, so nothing weird there.

We start Wednesday, September 9th, a bit of a mixed bag. The morning has a solid 12ft SW swell with a 19-second period, which is a very long period groundswell, and the combined energy is pumping (14904). The wind is a cross-off from the SSW at 16 mph, so the face is clean, but at that size, it’s an expert-only game. The afternoon holds similar size at 12ft, though the period drops a touch and the energy halves (7452), but it’s still a big, powerful wave.

Thursday, September 10th, the swell eases slightly to 10ft from the SW, with a 16-second period. The morning is the pick, with a gentle cross-off wind and clean conditions. The combined energy is still strong (5470). This is still big, heavy surf for experienced surfers only.

The standout, and I mean the real gem of this early window, is Friday, September 11th, in the morning. The swell drops to a much more manageable 7ft, still from the SW with a long 15-second period. The wind goes glassy—zero wind, flat calm. The break will be clean as a whistle. The combined energy is moderate (1810). This is the best window of the first week for a solid, confident surfer.

Saturday, September 12th, is also a beauty. Glassy conditions again, with a 7ft SW swell in the morning and a 6ft SW swell in the afternoon. Both sessions have that light, clean feel. The crowd factor is “sometimes,” so you might get a few out, but it’s worth the paddle.

Sunday, September 13th, sees the swell drop way down to 5ft, and the wind swings to a cross-off from the NNW at 12 mph. The energy is weak (907). It’s clean but small and not much to write home about.

Monday, September 14th, is tiny. Offshore wind from the W at 16 mph, but the swell is 3ft with weak energy (295). The wave quality is poor.

Tuesday, September 15th, brings a fresh pulse. The swell jumps back to 8ft from the SW, with a 13-14 second period, and the energy is back in the moderate-strong range (2496). The wind is light and cross-off, keeping it clean. This is a good one for experienced surfers again.

There’s a gap of a few days of weaker, smaller surf, but then we get to the next big standout. Saturday, September 19th, offers a solid 10ft SW swell, with a 15-second period, and the wind is offshore from the WNW in the morning and WSW in the afternoon, both moderate. The energy is strong (3275 and 3758). This is a big, clean, powerful groundswell—expert territory.

Sunday, September 20th, the afternoon session is a real monster. A 13ft SW swell, with an 11-second period, and the wind is a moderate offshore from the WSW. The combined energy is a massive 5722. This is a serious, heavy swell, and it’s for experts only, but it’s as good as it gets for the big wave crew.

The following week, Monday, September 21st, holds a 10ft SW swell with a very long 17-18 second period, and the energy is strong (5581 and 6162). The wind is cross-off, keeping it clean. Then Tuesday, September 22nd, has a strong offshore wind from the WSW at 25 mph, with a 7ft SW swell, but that wind is howling, making it hard to paddle into and a bit of a battle.

Wednesday, September 23rd, is another solid looking day with a 10ft SW swell and a long 18-second period, light offshore wind, and strong energy (4871). A top pick for the second week for the experienced surfer.

For the best of the best, I’m calling Friday, September 11th, morning as the top pick of the first week—that glassy, 7ft groundswell is just too good. For the second week, Saturday, September 19th, morning and the Sunday, September 20th, afternoon are the standouts, but they are for the big-wave crew only.

This is Rusty, signing off.

Read more