Bells Beach - Bowl Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cooking for Bells.

We’ve got a bit of a slow start, honestly. The first couple of days are real messy. Wednesday the 16th is a write-off – cross-onshore winds and a big, jumbled 8ft swell that’s just not working. The energy is massive at 2631, but the wave quality is terrible for paddle surfing. It’s all chop and wind. Thursday the 17th is a bit smaller but still junk with cross-shore breezes.

The first real glimmer of hope is Friday the 18th. The wind swings offshore from the NW in the morning and stays offshore from the WNW through the afternoon. We’ve got a clean 5ft to 5ft SSW groundswell with a solid 14 to 16 second period and wave energy around 1227 to 1816. This is that classic Bells shape starting to show. It’s got enough power to wrap into the Bowl, and the offshore wind will have it looking like a postcard. The water temp is reading 57°, which is about a touch warmer than normal for this time of year – a nice little bonus for your session.

Saturday the 19th offers a bit more if the crowd isn't too thick. Morning has clean cross-offshore wind and a 5ft SW swell, but the period drops a touch to 13 seconds. The afternoon lightens up with only a light breeze and 4ft surf, perfect for a cruiser session. Crowds can be an issue here, though, so get in early for the cleanest lines.

Sunday the 20th sees the swell dropping to 4ft, and while the wind is light, the wave energy is too weak for much excitement. Monday the 21st brings a new pulse of SSW swell up to 6ft by the afternoon, with a long 16-second period pushing energy to 2265. Problem is, it’s accompanied by a moderate cross-shore wind, so it stays pretty average.

The standout session in the second week is shaping up for Saturday the 26th and then into the first of October. Saturday the 26th has a nice, long-period 19-second SW groundswell at 4ft to 4ft with clean cross-offshore winds. The energy is solid at 1648-2046. That ultra-long period (19 seconds) is best read at the reef and point sections here – it’ll be making the bowl pitchy with long lulls between sets. It’s only for experienced surfers who can handle that rhythm.

Then, if you can hold out, Wednesday the 30th of September shows fresh offshore winds with a building 3ft SW 17-second swell, and that sets up a near-perfect Thursday the 1st of October. Thursday morning is glassy-offshore with a light breeze and a clean 4ft SW swell (16 seconds). By the afternoon, it’s even cleaner – near glassy conditions, a perfect offshore from the WNW, and a 5ft SSW groundswell with 16-second period pushing energy to 1083. That’s your best bet in the whole run. It’s an advanced wave, serious power, and looking like a dream session for those who know how to work it.

All in all, don’t bother paddling out before Friday the 18th. That day and the first of October are the ones to circle.

Rusty.

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