Bells Beach - Bowl Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming down the pipe for Bells.

First up, the water temp is sitting about average for this time of year, so nothing wild there. This is an exposed reef and point setup, and it handles a good SW groundswell like a champ. There’s a solid pulse of energy coming, but you’ve got to be patient – the first few days are a bit of a tease with that big swell getting tangled up in less-than-ideal conditions.

Monday the 13th has that 7.5ft SW groundswell with a very long 16-second period, and the wind is howling at 35 km/h from the NW. It’s offshore, which is a major positive, keeping things clean, but it’s a fresh breeze and the combined energy is strong at 2481. It’s surfable for the experienced crew, but it feels a bit on the edge with that wind. By Tuesday the 14th, the wind drops to a moderate breeze, still cross-off, but the swell jumps to a serious 13.1ft from the SW (15-second period). The energy is massive at 9993 – that’s wild, powerful stuff. This is only for experts. If you’re not comfortable in heavy, 13.1ft+ waves at Bells, sit this one out. That Tuesday afternoon is the real standout for the big-wave chargers.

Wednesday the 15th settles down to a much more manageable 5.6ft, with a light breeze and clean conditions. The period is still a long 15 seconds, so the waves will have shape and power, but it’s not the juggernaut it was. Good for experienced surfers, but the score isn’t screaming “best of the trip”. Thursday the 16th morning stays clean with a light WNW breeze, but the direction shifts a bit to SSW. The energy is still moderate-to-strong at 1368, worth a paddle if you’re keen on a slightly different line.

The real golden window, the true standout of this whole outlook, is Friday the 17th. Morning is clear, winds are light cross-off from the NNW, and we’ve got a clean 5.2ft SW groundswell with 16 seconds of period. The afternoon gets even better – glassy conditions with an NNE breeze at just 5 km/h, 4.6ft swell, and clean faces. That’s as good as it gets at Bells. Light winds, solid groundswell, point break perfection. Paddling out will be a dream between sets with that long period.

Saturday the 18th drops off to 3.3ft and smaller. It’s gentle offshore in the morning, but the energy is weak at 377. You’ll get a wave, but it’s not the main event. Sunday the 19th is basically flat at 1.0ft to 1.6ft. That’s a gap day. Monday the 20th stays small, and you’re looking at a run of poor-to-ordinary surf until Wednesday the 22nd morning.

Don’t write off the end of the week though. Monday the 21st is a sneaky good one if you’re around – the morning is glassy with a 3.9ft SW swell and 14-second period. Energy is 607, and the wind is dead calm. That will be clean as a whistle. Then Friday the 24th afternoon picks up again with a 2.6ft SW swell but a very long 19-second period, giving it more punch than the size suggests – energy at 615, looking pretty clean.

The final call for the 16-day window is the weekend of the 25th and 26th. Saturday the 25th morning has a 4.3ft SW swell with a 16-second period, clean offshore NW wind at 10 km/h. The afternoon goes glassy again with 3.9ft. That Saturday is your second standout session. Sunday the 26th drops off fast.

So to wrap it up: if you want the biggest, gnarliest waves, it’s Tuesday the 14th afternoon. But for the best all-round, clean, surfable Bells session, your windows are Friday the 17th and Saturday the 25th. Don’t sleep on that Friday. The week in between is small and a bit ordinary, so pick your days.

Be safe out there.

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