Baya Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty checking in. We've only got one spot on the map for the next 16 days: Baya Reef.

It's a consistent run of solid SW groundswell, but the wind is gonna be your biggest headache. The water's sitting at 82°, right where you'd expect it to be for this time of year, so no dramas there.

The run starts on Monday the 17th, and it's a bit of a struggle. We've got 4ft of SSW swell (14-second period) Monday morning, but it's crossed up with a light breeze, and there's moderate energy (784). The afternoon gets lumpier with a 12 mph cross-shore. The quality's not there.

Tuesday the 18th, the swell kicks up. You're looking at 7ft of SSW groundswell in the morning with a long 16-second period. The combined energy jumps to strong (2147), but there's a light cross-onshore wind putting ripples on it. By the afternoon, it's 6ft with 12 mph cross-shore wind. Plenty of push, but messy.

Wednesday the 19th is all about size. Morning brings 8ft of SSW swell at a very long 18-second period with a light cross-onshore. The energy is very strong (4354). That's expert territory for size, and with the wind on it, it's a grinder. The afternoon hits 10ft, but with 12 mph cross-shore wind, it's a beast.

The standout, and I mean the *one* to circle, is Sunday the 23rd of August. The morning session is the call. We get 6ft of SSW swell with a 14-second period, and for the first time, the wind goes clean – a light 6 mph cross-offshore. The energy is moderate-strong (1646). The file calls it "excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers." That's your window. Solid size, perfect wind, and a reef that will handle that long-period energy. There will be *some* crowd, but it's worth it.

The following week, from the 25th onward, the swell drops to between 3ft and 5ft. The wind stays mostly cross or fresh cross-shore, keeping it lumpy. There are a couple of cleaner morning windows on the 25th and 26th with a cross-offshore breeze, but the swell is smaller.

Looking way out to Monday the 31st of August, there's a big pulse on the horizon. We're talking 8ft to 8ft of SW swell at a massive 19-second period. The energy is very strong (4640). But the wind is the killer – 22 mph cross-shore in the afternoon. A promise for the experts, but only if the wind plays ball.

Bottom line: you want the best wave of the forecast? Be at Baya Reef on the morning of Sunday, 23rd of August. Everything else is a compromise. Beginners, be careful when it's over 5ft, and anything over 8ft is for the hardcore crew only. Watch that wind, boys.

Rusty.

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