Bay Head Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright guys, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you—this stretch ahead is a tough one for Bay Head. We're looking at a long, drawn-out run of small, weak surf. It’s not a total write-off, but if you're looking for a score, you're gonna have to be patient and pick your moments. The water’s running a touch warmer than usual for this time of year at about 76°, which is a little treat, but that’s about where the good news ends for a while.

The next week is gonna be a grind. We're talking a lot of knee-high slop, mostly under 2 ft, with short-period wind swell that just doesn't have any punch. There are a few windows where it gets clean, like Sunday morning (the 9th) with light offshore wind and 2 ft from the SSE, but it’s still pretty weak. The swell energy is almost nonexistent, sitting around the 50-80 mark for the most part. Honestly, this is more of a "check it with a longboard and low expectations" kind of deal.

There's a stretch from the 10th through the 19th where it's just heartbreaking. Days on end of 1 ft to 2 ft mush. The energy readings are often in the single digits or teens, which is about as weak as it gets. The winds are mostly light or cross-off, which keeps the surface clean, but there’s just nothing to push you along. A couple of days, like the 17th, the wind picks up from the south, but the waves are so small it just adds chop to nothing.

You'll see a bit of a pulse start to build around the 20th. The energy numbers start climbing into the 100s and 200s, which is a sign things are waking up. By Friday the 21st, we're looking at a modest bump to around 3 ft, but the winds are cross-shore and there’s even some rain, so it’s not going to be pretty. The period is around 12 seconds, which is better, but the direction is more SE, which is okay, but the whole setup just doesn't come together for a clean, rideable wave.

The one real standout, and I mean the *only* one, is the Saturday afternoon of the 22nd. After that week of crap, we finally get some glassy conditions. The wind goes light and variable, and there's a pulse of 3 ft swell from the E with an 8-second period. The energy jumps to 167, which is actually moderate, and the light air will make it smooth. It won't be big, but it'll be the cleanest, most fun you'll have all week. The swell direction is almost straight east, which lines up with what this beach wants, even if the short period will mean it's a bit crumbly. You'll want to be on a fish or a groveler for this.

Sunday the 23rd is a backup with similar size, but a strong NNW wind will be howling, making it a battle to even sit out there for what will be a blown-out, crumbly mess.

So here’s the deal. This is a poor run for the next couple of weeks. Don't get your hopes up for anything epic. If you have to paddle out, do it on Saturday the 22nd and manage your expectations. Otherwise, this stretch looks better for a kite if you’ve got one, because there just isn't enough push for a paddleboard.

Stay patient.

- Rusty

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