Bar Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’m gonna be straight with you—this 16-day stretch for Bar Beach is a real mixed bag, and for the first week or so, it’s mostly a write-off. We’ve got a long dry spell before anything worth paddling out for shows up. The first real surf action doesn’t kick in until the tail end of the second week, but when it does, it’s a proper standout.

Let’s run through it. From now through to the end of July, it’s pretty grim. Friday the 17th and Saturday the 18th are small, onshore, and messy—waves around 3 ft to 5 ft from the ESE with a short, weak 6-second period. The combined energy is weak to moderate (178 to 271), and the wind is smashing it in. Not worth a second look. Sunday the 19th has a bit more size—7 ft from the E—but the period is still short at 10 seconds, the wind is onshore, and the energy is only moderate (890). They’re calling it poor or marginal. Monday the 20th is a slight improvement with a 5 ft E swell and a 10-second period, but the wind is cross-onshore, so it’s choppy. Tuesday the 21st morning looks clean with a light offshore wind (NNW) and 4 ft from the E, but it’s small and the energy is only moderate (303). Good for a beginner, but not a standout.

Then we hit a flat spell. From Wednesday the 22nd through to Tuesday the 29th, the swell drops right off—3 ft down to 1.0 ft—with combined energy sinking to as low as 58. The wind is offshore or glassy at times, but there’s simply no wave to ride. That’s a solid 7-day gap with nothing to recommend.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Wednesday the 29th of July—that’s the one. We get a solid S groundswell hitting 10 ft in the morning, with a 10-second period, and a massive combined energy of 2706—that’s very strong. The wind is offshore from the NW at 15 mph, keeping it clean. This is big, powerful surf, and it’s only for experienced surfers. The afternoon drops to 6 ft with the same offshore wind and energy of 1002—still excellent. The water temp is around 65°F, which is about average for this time of year, so no need for a thick wetsuit.

Thursday the 30th is still good but smaller—4 ft from the SSE, offshore wind, and solid energy (290). Clean conditions. Friday the 31st gets a bit tricky with light rain and a 7 ft SSE swell, but the wind is cross-offshore, so it’s clean enough. The energy jumps to 769 in the morning and 1965 in the afternoon—very strong. This one could be a bit of a mix, but still fun for the right crew.

Saturday the 1st of August sees 4 ft from the SE with offshore wind and moderate energy (314)—clean and fun for everyone.

So, the standout pick is Wednesday the 29th of July. The morning session with 10 ft S swell, offshore wind, and that massive energy is the best on offer. It’s big, powerful, and clean—expert only. The crowds at Bar Beach are often there, so expect company. If you’re a beginner, aim for the smaller days like Tuesday the 21st or Saturday the 1st of August, but be aware of the crowds.

Rusty.

Read more