Big Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s cooking at Big Bay. We’ve got a solid run of SW groundswell on the cards, but the wind is going to be the main character in this story, so we gotta pick our moments.

Overall Pattern & Kick-off

The energy is already building. We’re starting straight into it on Thursday, August 6th, with a punchy 10ft SW groundswell (combined energy 3228). The water is sitting at 56°, which is a solid 4° colder than usual for this time of year, so you’ll want a good hood and boots. The issue is a cross-off wind from the SSE at 12 mph. It’s clean, but that wind direction isn’t ideal for Big Bay. It’s surfable, but not the stand-out.

The Real Deal

The absolute highlight of this whole forecast is Friday morning, August 7th. We’ve got a clean 10ft SW swell pulsing with a 14-second period (combined energy 3673). The wind is a light easterly at just 3 mph, putting it glassy and cross-off. This is the session for experienced surfers. The wave quality will be excellent. That’s the one to circle on the calendar. The afternoon goes a bit onshore, so make it a dawn patrol.

The Middle Stretch

Saturday and Sunday (August 8th & 9th) are a bit of a mixed bag. The swell stays solid, around 8ft to 11ft, but the wind is all over the shop. Saturday has a light cross-on breeze, making it bumpy, and Sunday brings a stiff 22 mph SSE cross-off. While it’s clean, that wind is screaming. The swell energy is still massive (4132 on Saturday afternoon), but the quality is marginal. For the average surfer, these days are a pass.

The Second Week (August 10th – 21st)

The swell drops off a bit going into Monday the 10th, but we get a window of proper offshore wind. Monday morning has a 5ft SW swell with a 16 mph SE offshore; it’s clean but a bit blown out by the wind. Monday afternoon looks better with a 7ft S swell and a 12 mph SE offshore. Tuesday the 11th is a gem: 6ft SSW groundswell and a 9 mph east offshore. Clean, lined up, and perfect for intermediate and up.

We get another pulse of long-period energy on the 12th and 13th. Thursday morning the 13th is a standout for the second week: an 8ft WSW groundswell with a 17-second period (combined energy 3378) and a gentle 9 mph NE cross-off. That’s a long, clean groundswell that will run perfectly down the point. It’s a solid option for the experienced crew.

The 14th and 15th see the wind turning more cross and onshore, dropping the quality. The swell holds around 6ft, but it gets bumpy. Later in the week (August 17th-18th), a new 10ft SW swell arrives, but the wind is onshore or cross-off. Tuesday morning the 18th has a 7ft SW swell with a 16 mph SE offshore, which will be clean and punchy.

The final run from the 19th to the 21st shows the swell fading out. Wednesday morning the 19th has a 5ft SW swell with a 17-second period and a light ENE cross-off, offering a last clean session before the energy drops to 3ft and the wind goes onshore by Friday.

The Bottom Line

For the best of the best, you’re looking at Friday morning, August 7th, and Thursday morning, August 13th. Those are the two sessions where the swell size, period, and wind all lock in. The water is cold, the crowds are likely at this exposed spot, so get out there early.

Rusty.

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