Bar Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll be straight with you – this is a tough stretch for Bar Beach. The whole 16-day window is a bit of a let-down, with a real gap in quality surf from the start. The first solid recommendation doesn’t show up until Thursday the 13th, and even then it’s a mixed bag.

We start off with a few days of merely surfable waves but very ordinary conditions. Sunday the 9th has some small 3ft swell from the east with a light offshore breeze, making it clean, but the combined energy is weak (116). You’ll get a wave, but it’s nothing to get excited about. Monday the 10th sees a jump in wind to 25 mph from the northwest – that’s strong offshore, which cleans the surface, but the swell is just 5ft and the energy is moderate (298), and it’s so windy it’s a nightmare to paddle into. Not my idea of a fun session.

The surf stays small and ordinary through Tuesday and Wednesday, with only tiny, weak pulses. Then Thursday the 13th morning finally offers something a bit different. The swell jumps to 7ft from the south, with a short 8-second period, and the combined energy is strong (758). The wind is a light cross-shore from the southwest, so it’s not clean, but it’s the best size we’ve seen. Honestly, this is the standout on offer. At 7ft, it’s pushing into territory for experienced surfers only – beginners, stay out of the water. The afternoon turns choppy with cross-onshore wind, so get it early.

Friday the 14th morning is another decent option. Swell drops to 4ft from the south, but the wind is light and cross-offshore, giving you clean conditions. Energy is moderate (230). It’s a far cry from pumping, but it’s rideable and the best quality session of the whole window. After that, the wind turns onshore and the quality falls away.

The second week is a write-off for quality surf. From Saturday the 15th through to the 24th, it’s a relentless run of poor conditions. The wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore, and the swell is either too small, too short period, or both. There’s a brief moment on Thursday the 20th morning with a tiny 4ft east swell and a light offshore breeze, but it’s just surfable, not good. The only real highlight is Saturday the 22nd morning, which is glassy – but with a pathetic 4ft east swell, it’s a flat, clean lake. Not worth a paddle.

The best bet overall is Thursday the 13th morning for the size, or Friday the 14th morning for the cleanest conditions. But honestly, if you’re a beginner, you’re better off waiting for a better forecast. This is a lean run, and it’s not unusual for this area to have blank spells. The water is a bit colder than normal at 64° – not a shock, but grab a thicker wetsuit.

Rusty.

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