Baya Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, and I’ve got a mixed bag for you from Baya Reef. This is a full-on advanced reef break, so get your step-ups ready. The swell is coming in pulses, but the wind is the main character here, and it’s mostly cross-shore, which keeps things from being perfect. The water is sitting at 82°, which is about normal for this time of year, so no need to dig out the steamer.

We’ve got a clean start coming up on the morning of Friday, 28 August. The swell is a solid 7 ft from the SSW with a long 16-second period, packing a lot of energy (2186). The wind is a light 9 mph from the SSE, cross-shore, which is making for some slight cross-chop but it’s still rideable. This is a big, powerful groundswell, and at a reef, it’ll be lining up nicely. But fair warning, at 7 ft to 6 ft, this is experienced territory only. The afternoon sees the wind pick up to 22 mph, turning it lumpy, so get it while it’s good in the morning.

Moving into Saturday, 29 August, the swell drops to 5 ft, but the period is still a decent 14 seconds. The morning is again the best slot with light cross-shore winds, but the energy is moderate (986). The waves will be smaller, less intimidating, but still a bit bumpy. Sunday, 30 August, is a real drop-off with only 2 ft to 3 ft. The wind stays light, and the swell has a long 20-second period, which is very long period. At a reef break, that means the waves will be super clean, but there won’t be many of them. The combined energy (784) is weak, so it’s a small, slow day.

The standouts in the first week are the mornings of Monday, 31 August, and Tuesday, 1 September. Monday morning sees the swell bump back up to 5 ft from the SW with a long 18-second period. The wind is a light 6 mph from the S, cross-shore, and it’s the cleanest of the week. The energy is strong (1789). Tuesday morning is similar, with a 7 ft swell from the SW, but the wind is light cross-onshore, so there’s a ripple on the surface. Still, the size and power (2468) are there. The afternoon winds ruin both days, so dawn patrol is the only game in town.

The middle of the week, Wednesday 2 September and Thursday 3 September, is a grind. The swell holds around 4 ft to 6 ft, but the wind is either fresh or lumpy, with the best mornings only offering “marginal” conditions. The energy drops below 1000 by Thursday, so it’s not really worth the paddle unless you’re desperate.

The real highlight of the entire 16-day window is the morning of Friday, 11 September. That’s over two weeks away, so it’s a long-range call, but it looks promising. We’re looking at a 8 ft swell from the SW with a 17-second period, and the combined energy is a massive 3096. The wind is a gentle 9 mph from the SSE, cross-shore, which means it’ll be a bit bumpy but still powerful. This is a big, grunty groundswell, and at 8 ft, it’s only for experts. The morning of Saturday, 12 September, is also a contender with 7 ft from the SW and similar energy (2883), but the wind is a touch stronger. If you’re an advanced surfer, these two days are the best on offer, but don’t sleep on the Friday morning of the 28th either.

For the rest of the second week, it’s a slow fade. From 4 September to 9 September, the swell is mostly under 5 ft, the period is short, and the wind is often fresh. The energy stays below 1000 most days. It’s a quiet, frustrating period. The reef will be breaking, but it’s small and choppy.

Overall, the best surf is on the mornings of Friday 28 August, Monday 31 August, or the long-range call for Friday 11 September. The winds are never perfectly offshore, so you’ll be dealing with a bit of texture, but the quality of the swell at a reef like this makes up for it. Crowds are possible here, so expect some company on the peak. It’s a reef, so bring your board with some wax.

Rusty.

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