Bells Beach - Bowl Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here, lookin' over the charts for the next couple of weeks. It's a bit of a mixed bag, but there's some serious firepower on the horizon if you're patient and know what you're doing.

The forecast starts pretty ordinary, honestly. We've got a bit of a wait for the real quality to show up. The first few days are a write-off with messy, onshore winds and weak surf. After that, we get a pulse of very long-period groundswell, but it comes with some gnarly wind and size that'll only suit the hardcore crew. The real standout window is further out, promising some of the cleanest, juiciest waves we've seen in a while.

Alright, let's get into it.

Bells Beach – Bowl (reef and point, advanced) is where all the action is, and it's a consistent spot. The water is sitting at 57°F right now, which is about average for the time of year, so no need for a crazy thick wetsuit yet.

We start off with a dud. Monday the 7th is a no-go. Tuesday the 8th, however, is the first real tease. The morning session is looking clean with a light offshore breeze, and a solid 0.9m (3ft) SSW groundswell with a seriously long 18-second period. The combined energy is strong (1070), so those waves will have some punch. This is excellent for experienced surfers, but with that super long period, expect it to stand up pretty quick on the reef. The bowls should be offering up some nice, well-shaped lines. The afternoon gets a bit wonky with a cross-shore wind, so morning is the call.

Wednesday the 9th is where things get big and hairy. We're looking at a 2.5m (8ft) to 3.0m (10ft) SSW swell with a 16-18 second period. The combined energy is massive (4679-5946). This is expert territory only. The wind is a fresh cross-shore, making it lumpy and challenging. It's going to be a beast of a day, not for the faint-hearted.

Thursday the 10th stays big, around 2-2.5m (8-8ft), but the wind turns onshore and choppy by the afternoon, spoiling the party. The morning is still cross-shore and lumpy. Friday the 11th drops back to a more manageable 1.6m (5ft), but the wind is onshore and wobbly. Not great.

Now, here's the first real standout. Saturday the 12th morning. The wind goes glassy offshore from the NNW, and we've got a clean 1.6m (5ft) SW groundswell with a 15-second period. The combined energy is high (1190). This is the kind of morning you dream of at the Bowl. Clean, lined-up, and powerful. The crowd might be a factor, as it's a well-known spot, but for that quality, you'll be in the water. The afternoon is still light and rideable, but the morning is the golden ticket.

The next few days after that drop right off. Sunday the 13th through to Tuesday the 22nd is a long stretch of small, weak, or messy conditions. There's a brief flare-up of size on Wednesday the 16th, but the wind is junky. It's a waiting game.

Then, we get to the second week's jewel. Sunday the 20th. This is the one to circle on your calendar. The morning has a tiny 0.9m (3ft) swell, but it's building. The real payoff is Sunday afternoon. Glassy offshore wind from the NW, a clean 1.4m (5ft) SW groundswell rolling in at a 16-second period, and the combined energy is a solid 1623. The forecast calls for excellent surf conditions. This is a potential classic at the Bowl. The conditions are set to be damn near perfect. After that, it fades into small, clean but weak conditions for the rest of the forecast period, so make the most of that Sunday afternoon.

Overall, don't bother paddling out until the morning of the 12th, and if you can, save your energy for the 20th. That's the one.

Rusty.

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