Bay of Martyrs Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into the outlook for our little slice of coast. We’ve got a proper run of solid, heavy swell coming through, but this isn’t a spot for the faint-hearted. This is Bay of Martyrs, and it’s a reef setup that demands respect. The water temp is sitting around 14°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The first real action kicks off on Friday, July 31st. The morning brings a clean 7ft SW groundswell with a 12-second period, and a light offshore wind from the NNW. The wave energy is moderate at 1455. It’s good, quality surf, but this is a break for advanced surfers only. The afternoon sees a cross-shore wind kicking in, making it a bit less appealing, so the morning is the pick of that day.

Now, the real standout window gets going on Saturday, August 1st. The morning has a cracking 8ft SW groundswell with a very long 17-second period, and clean offshore winds from the north. The combined energy jumps to 3560, which is solid. The swell direction is straight out of the south, which is the optimum for this reef. The afternoon steps it up another notch: a 10ft SW groundswell, 16-second period, and clean cross-offshore winds. The energy reads 5167. This is the best of the first week. The swell is over 8ft, so this is strictly for experts, but the conditions are exceptional.

Sunday, August 2nd keeps the good times rolling. Morning sees a 10ft SW groundswell, 16-second period, and a moderate offshore breeze from the north. The energy is 4005. The afternoon is similar, with a 10ft swell shifting to the WSW, still with offshore winds. It’s a solid day, but the wind is a bit stronger.

Monday, August 3rd is a write-off. We get rain showers and messy cross-onshore winds. The swell jumps to a massive 15ft on the afternoon, but with a cross-onshore wind, it’s just a lumpy, choppy mess. Not one for the paddle.

The rest of the first week into the second week is a mixed bag. We get a few more mornings with clean conditions, like Thursday, August 6th with a 5ft SW groundswell at 16 seconds and light winds, but the size is more manageable. The real standout, however, is the run from August 9th onwards. The swell just keeps pumping.

Sunday, August 9th is a beast. The morning has a 15ft WSW swell with a moderate offshore wind, and the energy is a massive 7919. The afternoon is even bigger, hitting 16ft with a 14-second period and a fresh offshore breeze. The energy climbs to 9778. This is huge, powerful, and dangerous. Monday, August 10th is even larger, with the afternoon swell at 16ft and a 17-second period, and the energy reading a staggering 14518. It’s all cross-offshore winds, keeping it relatively clean, but the size is enormous. This is the second week’s standout – a proper, heavy groundswell event. The long period means it’ll be lining up beautifully on this reef, but only if you’ve got the experience. The crowd profile here says “sometimes,” so with this kind of swell, you might have a few other chargers out, but it won’t be a circus.

The swell then starts to back off a bit, but it’s still big through the 11th and 12th of August, with cleaner winds. By Thursday, August 13th, we’re back to an 12ft WSW groundswell with a 17-second period, but the wind is cross-shore, putting a bit of a chop on the face. The 14th of August is a total bomb: a 16ft WSW swell with an 18-second period, but the wind is a strong, messy cross-onshore. The energy is 16274, but it’s just too blown out for anything other than a survival session. The 15th of August sees the swell dropping to 13ft with cleaner cross-offshore winds, offering a last chance for a big-wave session.

In short, the first week has a beautiful, clean window on the 1st and 2nd of August. The second week is all about the massive, long-period groundswell from the 9th to the 10th of August, which is the real standout for the big-wave crew. After that, the wind makes it tricky. This is a reef, so the long-period swells will work a treat.

Rusty.

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