Big Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, let's talk about what's on the table for Big Bay over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, there’s no surf to speak of for the next couple of days – a quiet start. But hold onto your board shorts, because from Sunday the 6th, things get seriously interesting.

The standout of the whole run is undeniably Sunday morning, September 6th. We’ve got a solid 7ft swell rolling in from the southwest, and that’s not just any swell – the period is a deep 18 seconds. That’s proper groundswell, with heaps of energy – you can feel it in the combined energy (3104). This is the kind of day for experienced surfers only, as it’ll be a bit much for the groms. The wind is a gentle offshore breeze from the ESE, so it’s going to be clean and lined up. This is the one you call in sick for.

The water temperature is about average for this time of year, so a normal spring suit will do.

After that burner, Thursday the 10th is another cracker worth a mention. The morning has a 7ft southwest swell with a 15-second period, and the wind is a gentle cross-offshore from the south. By the afternoon, it actually bumps up to 8ft from the southwest with a 14-second period. The combined energy is strong (2228 and 2968), so the ocean is going to have some serious grunt. These are excellent conditions for experienced crew, with clean, powerful lines.

Looking further out, the very end of the forecast window looks promising. Thursday the 17th into the weekend sees another excellent pulse. The morning of the 17th has an 8ft swell from the west with a 13-second period, and a clean offshore wind from the SE. The energy is pumping (4179). The afternoon is even cleaner with a moderate offshore. This is a long-range call, so it's promising but we’ll keep an eye on it, but the signs are really good.

For the rest of the run, there are other sessions with solid swell, like the 8ft on Saturday the 12th, but the wind is messy or onshore, so you'll be hunting for a sheltered bank. The Saturday morning, September 19th has a very interesting 7ft south swell with glassy conditions – that could be a sneaky good window if you’re awake early.

One thing to note: Big Bay is an exposed spot. When that long-period swell (over 15 seconds) hits, it’s going to be best on the points or reefs if you can find them; at the beach, it might wall up a bit. The crowds can be a problem here, especially on the good days – "often" is the word, so be prepared for company.

In the second week, the pattern looks a bit more mixed, with building wind and lumpy conditions, then a clean-up mid-week. Focus your energy on that Sunday the 6th and the Thursday the 10th.

Rusty.

Read more