Bay Head Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. This is Rusty, and I’m taking a look at what’s on offer for Bay Head over the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, the first week and a half is a real struggle. We’re staring down the barrel of a long, flat spell. From Sunday, July 5th right through to Wednesday, July 15th, the surf is just not happening. The waves are tiny, the wind is mostly junk, and the water is a mess. You’re looking at a solid ten days of nothing worth paddling for. It’s frustrating, but sometimes that’s just how it goes around here.

Now, the real story begins to change on Thursday, July 16th. That morning, we finally see a bit of a shift. The wind goes light offshore out of the west-northwest, and then picks up from the west in the afternoon. It’s still small, around 1 ft, but it’s clean. That’s a good sign.

Friday, July 17th is a step up. The morning is clean again with a light cross-offshore breeze, and the swell starts to push to 3 ft from the south. By the afternoon, it’s 3 ft from the south, and the wind is a moderate cross-offshore, keeping things clean. Still not a standout, but it’s finally surfable and the sets are starting to have a little push.

The real highlight, the one you’ve been waiting for, is Saturday, July 18th. The morning kicks off with a solid 5 ft swell from the south (combined energy of 371). The wind is a moderate cross-offshore, keeping the surface clean. This is the best we’ve seen in the whole run. It’s got some punch, it’s clean, and the period is a short 7 seconds, so it’ll be a bit quick and punchy. Not one for the beginners – that’s a bit too much size for a learner.

But the absolute standout, the one to circle on the calendar, is Sunday, July 19th. The morning is looking like a solid classic. There’s a 7 ft swell from the south with an 8-second period, and the combined energy is a massive 903. That’s some serious juice. The wind is a light cross-offshore, so the surface will be glassy. This is a proper swell for the experts. That size is only for the experienced crew because it’s going to be a powerful, heavy wave. For the afternoon, it drops back down to 4 ft, but the morning window is the one.

The water temperature is sitting at 73°, which is a full 4° warmer than usual for this time of year. It feels like bathwater, a really nice surprise for a July surf.

So, to wrap it up: you’ve got a long, flat, frustrating start to the run. Don’t even bother until the end of the week. The best bet is the morning of Saturday, July 18th for a solid, clean day, but the true standout is the morning of Sunday, July 19th for the big, clean, powerful swell. Get on it if you’ve got the skills.

Rusty

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