Bells Beach - Bowl Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty, and I’ve been staring at this long-range chart for Bells Beach – Bowl, and I’ve got to be honest with you, the next 16 days start off a bit flat and frustrating. The first proper surf recommendation doesn’t appear until Sunday, August 2nd, but even then, it’s nothing to write home about. We’ve got a bit of a slow burn before things really crank up.

The pattern starts off with a dying swell. Sunday the 2nd and Monday the 3rd see a consistent SW groundswell, but it’s small – around 4 ft to 5 ft. The wind is cross-off from the north, which would usually be a bonus, but the wave energy is weak, with a combined energy reading of 986 on Sunday morning, dropping off. The water temperature is about average for the time of year, so no surprises there. The whole first week is a bit of a grind, with mostly marginal conditions and only small, clean waves for the patient surfer.

Nothing really stands out until Thursday, August 6th morning. The swell drops to 2 ft but the period is a long 16 seconds, and with a light WSW breeze, the conditions are clean. The energy is very weak at 215, so it’s a slow, long-period groundswell that will hit the point at Bells perfectly, but you’ll be waiting for sets. After that, we hit a real gap. From Thursday afternoon through to the end of the following week, the recommendations are scarce and the scores are low. It’s a bit of a dead run.

Now, hold onto your board, because the real standout arrives on Friday, August 14th. The morning shows a solid 7 ft SW swell with a long 18-second period, and the combined energy jumps to 2630 – that’s a strong pulse. The wind is cross-off from the WNW, making for clean conditions. This is a proper groundswell, and for a reef and point set-up like Bells, that long period is your best friend. The waves will have shape, power, and long gaps between sets, making paddling out easier. It’s worth noting that this size is over 5 ft, so it’s getting too big for beginners, and the afternoon sees the swell drop to 6 ft with glassy conditions from the SSW wind – dead glass. That’s your best window, right there. The Saturday morning, August 15th, is also a solid option with a 4 ft SW swell and offshore WNW wind, staying clean. The Saturday afternoon, however, gets a bit wild with a 12 ft SW swell – that’s expert territory, and the wind is light cross-onshore, so it’s not as clean.

The Sunday, August 16th, morning is another excellent call for experienced surfers, with a 6 ft SW swell and light offshore winds, clean and powerful. Just keep in mind that Bells is a consistent spot, but it can get crowded, so expect company on those good days.

So, to sum it up: the first week is a slog, with small, clean waves but very little energy. The real shining moment is the Friday, August 14th, through to the Sunday, August 16th, with the 14th being the pick of the lot for the experienced crew. The Saturday afternoon’s 12 ft surf is only for the brave. The long-range stuff around the 14th is promising, but remember, it’s a week and a half out, so don’t lock it in just yet.

Rusty.

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