Big Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s break it down. Big Bay is the only game in town for this forecast, and it’s got a good run of swell coming, but you gotta pick your moments. The water is running a bit colder than usual for this time of year, so don’t forget a good wetsuit. The swell is mostly from the southwest, which is exactly what this exposed break wants, and the energy starts off decent but builds fast.

We start Friday afternoon, July 17th, with a 6ft SW swell at 10 seconds, but the wind is cross from the SW at 6 mph, and the conditions are just marginal. Not the best time to paddle out. Wait until Saturday morning, July 18th. That’s a standout. The swell drops to 5ft from the SW, period short at 9 seconds, but the wind goes glassy from the NNW at 3 mph. It’s clean, it’s tidy, and the combined energy is a solid 625. This is the kind of morning that makes it all worth it.

Sunday and Monday mornings also have some clean windows with glassy or light wind, but the swell quality is a bit mixed with periods bouncing around 9 to 12 seconds. Monday morning, July 20th, is another glassy session with 4ft SSW swell, period 9 seconds, and energy at 554. It’s not huge, but it’ll be fun and uncrowded if you’re lucky.

Now, the real juice comes Tuesday afternoon, July 21st. We’re looking at 6ft SW swell, period 14 seconds, and the combined energy jumps to 1344. The wind is glassy from the west at 3 mph. That’s a proper groundswell and the waves will have some push. The long period means it’ll be better-shaped, but at a beach break like Big Bay, it might get a bit straight. Still, for experienced surfers, this is excellent.

Wednesday the 22nd gets messy. Light rain, strong cross-onshore winds at 18 mph, and lumpy 8ft swell. That’s a day to stay on the beach or go kiting. The wind is fresh and the conditions are poor.

Thursday afternoon, July 23rd, is a redemption window. The swell drops to 5ft from the WSW, period 12 seconds, but the wind goes glassy from the WNW at 3 mph. The energy is high at 1233, and it’s another excellent session for experienced surfers.

Then comes the big one. Friday, July 24th, is the standout of the whole outlook. Morning and afternoon both see 10ft to 12ft SW swell, period 15 seconds, with clean cross-offshore winds from the SSE at 6 mph. The combined energy is massive – 4046 and then 4618. This is serious groundswell. The long period makes it a proper point-break style wave, but at a beach break, it could be a bit unruly. Only experts should be out there. This is the day to watch.

Saturday the 25th still has plenty of size – 8ft in the morning, 8ft in the afternoon – but the wind picks up to 18 mph from the SSE, making it clean but strong. The energy is still high, but it’s harder to paddle into.

Sunday the 26th is a wild card. The morning has 12ft from the SSE at 10 seconds with a strong offshore at 25 mph. That’s a 6449 energy reading, but it’s going to be incredibly hard to paddle into. The afternoon is better: 7ft SW at 16 seconds, moderate offshore wind, and energy at 4344. Again, for experts only.

The last week of the outlook, from July 27th through August 1st, sees the swell settle down. Morning and afternoon sessions on the 27th and 28th are clean with 5ft to 5ft SW swell, good winds, and moderate energy. The 29th and 30th have smaller waves, around 3ft to 5ft, and the wind starts to get messy again. By the end of July and into August 1st, the conditions turn poor with onshore winds and small, choppy surf. The last few days of the outlook are a write-off.

So, the best on offer is the glassy Saturday morning the 18th for a clean, fun session, and the big Friday the 24th for the big-wave crew. The Tuesday afternoon the 21st and Thursday afternoon the 23rd are also excellent for experienced surfers. There’s a solid week of good surf here, and then a gap of poor conditions from July 31st onward.

Rusty.

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