Big Bay Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.79° S 18.46° E

Big Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 7 am 12 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Big Bay sea temperature is
12.7° C
2.7° 

Big Bay surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Big Bay surf forecast from 12 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 13 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 20s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 13 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 17s period, WSW swell with 2,998 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 12 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 18s period with SW swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Big Bay this week:

The surf forecast for Big Bay over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 5PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.8m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Big Bay in the next 16 days are 2.2m 17s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 13) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 5s period and expected on Monday (Aug 17) at 5PM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 5PM (Wed 12th Aug)6ft (1.8m) 18s
Best Surf 5AM (Thu 13th Aug)5ft (1.6m) 20s
Most Powerful11AM (Thu 13th Aug)7ft (2.2m) 17s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Big Bay over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here again. Let’s talk about Big Bay in feet and miles per hour.

Water temp is a chilly 55°F, which is way colder than normal for this time of year. You’ll want a thick suit and maybe booties.

Wednesday 12 August kicks things off with a clean 6 ft swell from the SW at an 18-second period. That’s long-period groundswell with some serious energy (2215 combined). Wind is a light cross-offshore at 9 mph from the ENE, so the surface is clean. This is a strong, experienced surfer’s wave. Afternoon improves with a pure offshore ESE breeze and swell holding at 6 ft. This is a standout early session: clean, powerful, and long.

Thursday 13 August gets messy. The swell jumps to 7 ft from the WSW in the morning but the wind goes cross-shore from the NNE at 9 mph. Afternoon brings onshore wind from the NW at 6 mph. Not the best.

Friday 14 August is lumpy. 6 ft swell but cross-onshore winds spoil the surface. The energy drops. Surfable but not great.

Saturday 15 August – this is the highlight of the first week. Morning is absolutely glassy, dead calm, with a 6 ft SW swell at a 13-second period. The energy is solid (1152). The wind stays light and cross-offshore from the south in the afternoon. This is going to be clean, lined up, and fun all day.

Sunday 16 August is a bit bumpy with cross-on winds, but the swell holds at 6 to 6 ft.

Monday 17 August brings a big pulse: 8 ft from the WSW in the morning. That’s expert-only territory. Clean with a cross-off wind, the combined energy is huge (2245). Afternoon drops to 7 ft but stays clean. A second standout for strong surfers.

Tuesday 18 August starts glassy with a 7 ft SW swell. Glassy and solid. This is an absolute gem. The afternoon goes a little cross-shore so morning is the call.

The end of the first week and start of the second week fade out. By Thursday 20 August the swell is down to 4 ft with onshore wind. Friday 21 August is tiny – 3 to 3 ft – and the energy is weak (289).

But Saturday 22 August shows a bump: 5 ft from the SW with clean conditions. Sunday 23 August is a proper standout for the second week: 6 ft in the morning with offshore wind from the east. Clean and punchy, energy at 1182. Worth the trip.

Monday 24 August is blown out with 22 mph onshore winds and tiny waves. No good.

Tuesday 25 August has a weird one: only 2 ft of swell but a 19-second period, and glassy conditions. That’ll produce long, slow lines – fun for a longboard.

Wednesday 26 August is clean at 5 ft. Thursday 27 August is the final standout: morning is dead calm and glassy with a 6 ft WSW swell, 12-second period, and energy over 1000 (1068). Clean, punchy, and well-shaped. Afternoon picks up to 7 ft but gets a light cross-shore wind.

Best of the best: Saturday 15 August and Tuesday 18 August in the first week. Sunday 23 August and Thursday 27 August in the second. Solid run overall.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Thu afternoon, min 13°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Sat afternoon, min 13°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light.

Wednesday
12
Thursday
13
Friday
14
Saturday
15
Sunday
16
Monday
17
Tuesday
18
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
3
3
3
4
2
3
4
4
4
3
2
3
4
4
4
4
4
2
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.7
SW
18
1.8
SW
18
1.9
WSW
16
2.2
WSW
17
2.1
WSW
16
1.9
WSW
16
1.8
WSW
15
1.7
WSW
14
1.7
WSW
14
1.8
WSW
13
1.8
WSW
14
1.8
WSW
14
1.8
WSW
14
1.9
WSW
14
2.5
WSW
13
2.5
WSW
13
2.2
WSW
13
2.1
WSW
13
2
WSW
12
1.8
WSW
12
1.1
SW
12
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1922
1952
1809
2998
2262
1663
1358
1257
1059
1144
1179
1161
1207
1484
2313
2245
1725
1504
1163
936
383
Wind (km/h)
15
ENE
15
ESE
20
E
15
NNE
10
NW
10
NE
15
N
5
NW
5
E
5
SSW
10
S
10
NW
10
NNW
10
W
10
SE
10
SSE
15
S
10
SSE
5
SSE
15
SSW
15
SSE
Wind State
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross
on
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
glassy
cross-off
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross
cross-off
High Tide
3:13PM1.62m
3:29AM1.57m
3:52PM1.68m
4:09AM1.56m
4:29PM1.69m
4:46AM1.51m
5:05PM1.64m
5:22AM1.43m
5:39PM1.55m
5:57AM1.33m
6:13PM1.43m
6:32AM1.21m
6:48PM1.29m
Low Tide
9:01AM0.02m
9:27PM0.05m
9:40AM-0.01m
10:07PM0.02m
10:16AM-0.00m
10:45PM0.03m
10:51AM0.05m
11:22PM0.09m
11:24AM0.14m
11:57PM0.19m
11:57AM0.25m
00:31AM0.30m
12:30PM0.38m
1:08AM0.42m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:28
7:26
7:26
7:24
7:24
7:22
7:22
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:14
6:14
6:15
6:15
6:15
6:16
6:17
 mm
Temp °C
16
21
20
22
27
21
17
16
15
16
19
18
16
17
15
16
18
15
15
16
14
Feels °C
12
18
16
19
22
18
14
14
15
15
17
17
14
15
15
15
16
14
15
14
12
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Information about the Big Bay Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Big Bay provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Big Bay can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Big Bay surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Big Bay) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).

Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Big Bay may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.

Big Bay is 8 km (5 miles) from the very large city of Robben Island. If you plan a holiday in Cape Town, look for hotels and other accommodation in Robben Island. Robben Island has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as cheap car hire and transport links.

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