Apollo Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Looks like we’ve got a bit of a slow start on the way, but once the swell kicks in, Apollo Bay is set to serve up some serious sessions. The first few days are pretty marginal, so don’t expect any fireworks straight away.

Wednesday the 26th of August kicks things off with a 5ft SW swell, period at 13 seconds, and cross-off winds. The combined energy is moderate (623), but the forecast is iffy, so it’s more of a paddle-and-see than a standout. Thursday the 27th is a bit of a letdown with a drop to 3ft in the morning and 2ft in the afternoon, both from the SW and WSW, with short period and cross-off wind. Not much to get excited about.

Then Friday the 28th of August is where it starts to wake up. Morning session brings a 5ft SW swell, a long 18-second period, and light offshore WSW wind. The combined energy jumps to strong (2883), and the conditions are set for excellent surf for experienced surfers. This is a genuine groundswell, so expect clean, well-shaped waves, but the long period means it might be a bit too straight for the beach – keep an eye on the point. Afternoon holds up similar but with a cross-off wind.

Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th are both solid. Saturday has 4ft SW swell with moderate energy and cross-off winds, while Sunday morning brings a 6ft SSW swell, light offshore wind, and strong energy (1082). Sunday afternoon gets a bit windier but still clean.

Now, the real standout is Monday the 31st of August. Morning and afternoon both have glassy conditions with zero wind. The swell is 6ft from the SW, period 15 seconds, and the combined energy is very strong (1670). This is a top-tier session – clean, long period groundswell, and the point will be the pick. The crowd is sometimes, so you might have a few mates out, but not a circus.

Tuesday the 1st of September gets a bit sloppy with strong NW cross-off wind, but the swell holds at 5ft. Wednesday the 2nd is better, with offshore winds and a 5ft SW swell, period 15 seconds – good energy (1159) and a clean lineup.

Thursday the 3rd of September sees the swell jump to 7ft in the morning, then a monster 15ft WSW swell in the afternoon with very strong energy (11121). That’s expert territory – huge, powerful, and offshore wind, but only for the brave. The 15ft is too big for most.

Friday the 4th and Saturday the 5th of September are both excellent for experienced surfers. Friday has a 8ft SW swell, very strong energy (2681), and moderate offshore wind. Saturday morning has 8ft SW swell, strong energy (2224), and gentle offshore breeze. These are clean, powerful, and consistent.

Sunday the 6th of September is huge – 18ft SW swell with near gale offshore wind. The combined energy is massive (17560), but the wind is brutal. It’ll be a battle to paddle out, and the swell is way too big for anyone but absolute experts. The 18ft is a beast.

Monday the 7th of September is still huge at 18ft in the morning, then drops to 8ft in the afternoon with fresh offshore wind. The morning is mammoth, the afternoon is more manageable but still strong.

Tuesday the 8th of September is the true standout for experts. Morning has a 20ft WSW swell, period 16 seconds, combined energy over 22,000 – that’s incredible power. The wind is light NW cross-off, and the forecast says it’s exceptional for expert surfers. The afternoon is the same size but with glassy conditions, and it’s an absolute gem. For the best break, the point at Apollo Bay will handle that long period, but the beach will be a wild mess.

From Wednesday the 9th of September, the swell drops back to 8ft and 7ft, with cross-off and offshore winds, still good for experienced surfers. Thursday the 10th of September wraps it up with a 4ft SW swell, 15-second period, light offshore wind, and moderate energy (767) – a nice, clean finish.

The water temperature is 57°, which is about 1° warmer than average for this time of year – nothing unusual, just a touch on the mild side for late winter.

To sum it up, the best on offer is Monday the 31st of August for a clean, glassy, long period groundswell session, and Tuesday the 8th of September for the expert-level, massive swell spectacle. The rest is solid, but those two are the standouts. Stay safe out there, and don’t be a hero on the big days.

Rusty.

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