Bay Front Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty, and I’ve gotta be straight with you: the next 16 days at Bay Front are a tough watch. This spot is a rare breaker, a reef setup that needs a lot of things to line up, and honestly, the forecast is mostly a story of missed opportunities.

The water is sitting at 81°F right now, which is about average for the time of year, so at least you won’t need a thick suit.

The first week is a grind. From Wednesday the 2nd right through to Sunday the 6th, we’ve got a building swell, but it’s coming from the ENE with a short, punchy period of just 8 seconds. The wind is a constant cross-onshore, keeping things choppy and messy. The swell energy is moderate to strong (836 to 1773), but the quality just isn’t there. It’s the kind of surf that will have you paddling back out wondering what you’re doing.

There’s a glimmer of hope on Monday the 7th. The morning shows a solid 7ft of ENE swell with a longer 12-second period, and crucially, the wind swings around to a light ESE cross-offshore. That’s the cleanest we’ll see it all week, with a clean surf report. The energy is strong (1577), but the wave comment says it’s ‘excellent for experienced surfers’ – and that’s the truth. The swell is over 7ft, so this is for the advanced crew only. The afternoon sees the wind pick up, so the morning is your window.

The rest of the first week into the second week is pretty average. The 8th and 9th see the swell drop and the wind get messier. By the 10th of September, the swell is small and weak, and the conditions are poor. There’s a long gap of uneventful, small surf from the 11th to the 13th, with the swell barely reaching 4ft and the wind mostly cross-onshore. It’s the kind of flat spell that’s normal for a spot that rarely breaks.

The last hope arrives on the 15th of September. The morning shows a 5ft ENE swell with an 8-second period, and the wind is a clean, light ESE cross-offshore. The wave comment says ‘expect good surf conditions’, and the energy is moderate (356). It’s not a world-beater, but it’s the only time in the second week where the conditions actually look surfable and clean. The 17th of September shows a building swell again, but it’s back to a cross-shore wind and a short period, so it’s more of the same struggle.

If you’re a seasoned surfer who can handle punchy, over-7ft waves in clean conditions, Monday the 7th is your best bet. For everyone else, the 15th of September is the only other window that looks worth a look. Until then, the reef is mostly a tease.

Rusty.

Read more