Big Bay Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.79° S 18.46° E

Big Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 am 09 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Big Bay sea temperature is
11.6°C
4.0° 

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 9 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 10 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 16s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 16 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 16s period, WSW swell with 7,616 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 9 Sep, 11AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 13s period with WSW 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 (Sep 09) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Big Bay in the next 16 days are 4.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 5s period and expected on Friday (Sep 11) at 2AM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11AM (Wed 9th Sep)3ft (0.9m) 13s
Best Surf 5AM (Thu 10th Sep)4.5ft (1.3m) 16s
Most Powerful 5AM (Wed 16th Sep)13ft (4.0m) 16s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, grab your board and let’s talk about Big Bay. First, the water's freezing—53°, which is a solid 7° colder than usual for this time of year. That’s not a wetsuit thing, that’s a hood and booties thing. You’ll feel that sting on the paddle out.

We’ve got a bit of a slow burn to start. Nothing really happening until Wednesday the 10th, so don’t rush out before that. From the 10th on, we’re looking at a solid run of SW groundswell with moderate energy (2215), with 8ft of swell. It’s a bit much for the learning crowd, but for the guys who know what they’re doing, Thursday and Saturday are the pick of the first week. The Saturday afternoon pulse bumps up to 8ft with a 17-second period—that’s proper long-period energy, and the energy readings are strong (4064). It’ll be lined up, but that long period can make it a bit walled at a straight beach break; it’s a session for the experienced.

By Sunday the 13th, the wind goes glassy early. 7ft of SW swell with that clean surface is a great morning. The swell direction is a touch more WSW, which isn’t perfect for this exposure, but it’ll still be fun. Don't get too comfortable though—Monday and Tuesday turn into a write-off. Strong cross-onshore winds (up to 25 mph), lumpy, messy, and the swell gets mixed up with a short period NW windswell. It’s going to be a mess. That Monday, there’s even a bit of rain. Hard pass.

Then we get the standout run. From the 16th through the 19th, things really fire. The morning of the 16th has 12ft of WSW swell and strong energy (5371), but with 15 mph cross-off winds, it’s going to be big and challenging. The 17th is still big at 8ft, but cleaner. Honestly, the best bang for your buck looks like the 18th morning: 5ft of clean swell, light ENE wind, and that glassy surface. That’s the one where you can just about have it to yourself if you get out early.

The last few days fade off a bit. The 21st and 22nd have some nice, clean, smaller waves (around 5ft) with offshore and calm winds, perfect for a longboard or a fun twin fin. It’s a good way to end the run, but not a standout.

So, to keep it simple: if you’re an expert, the 16th and 17th are your days. For the rest of us, lock in the 18th morning, and maybe the 21st if you want a cruisy session. The rest is either too small, too blown out, or too gnarly. The window is there, you just gotta pick your moment.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Wed afternoon, min 14°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Mon morning. Warm (max 20°C on Sat afternoon, min 14°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (calm on Sun morning, fresh winds from the N by Mon night).

Wednesday
9
Thursday
10
Friday
11
Saturday
12
Sunday
13
Monday
14
Tuesday
15
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
1
3
4
3
3
3
2
3
3
4
4
4
3
1
0
0
0
0
0
7
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
WSW
13
0.9
WSW
13
1.4
SW
12
2.3
SW
15
2.2
WSW
13
2
WSW
13
1.7
WSW
12
1.5
WSW
12
1.7
S
8
1.8
SW
15
2.5
SW
17
2.2
SW
15
2
SW
14
1.7
SW
13
1.3
SW
13
1.1
SW
12
1.9
NW
7
1.8
NW
8
1.1
SW
21
2.1
SW
18
4
WSW
16
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
304
295
607
2215
1672
1321
830
605
337
1325
3515
2010
1429
1014
600
380
305
345
1031
2690
7474
Wind (km/h)
10
S
20
SSE
10
SSE
15
S
20
S
25
SSE
20
SE
20
SSE
15
SSE
15
SE
25
SSE
15
SE
5
NNE
5
W
10
N
20
N
30
NNW
25
NNW
40
NNW
35
NW
20
SSE
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
High Tide
2:15PM1.57m
2:33AM1.51m
2:51PM1.66m
3:10AM1.55m
3:25PM1.70m
3:44AM1.55m
3:58PM1.68m
4:17AM1.52m
4:29PM1.62m
4:48AM1.45m
4:59PM1.52m
5:18AM1.35m
5:29PM1.40m
Low Tide
8:04AM0.12m
8:31PM0.08m
8:41AM0.05m
9:08PM0.01m
9:15AM0.02m
9:42PM-0.01m
9:48AM0.03m
10:15PM0.01m
10:19AM0.08m
10:45PM0.07m
10:49AM0.16m
11:15PM0.17m
11:18AM0.26m
11:44PM0.28m
clear
clear
clear
cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
light rain
light rain
cloud
cloud
mod rain
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:54
6:52
6:50
6:50
6:48
6:47
6:46
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:32
6:32
6:34
6:35
6:36
6:36
6:37
 mm
1
1
6
3
13
Temp °C
21
23
16
17
19
15
18
18
17
18
20
17
20
20
16
15
18
15
16
17
15
Feels °C
20
21
15
16
16
12
15
15
15
16
17
16
21
19
15
14
13
11
9
9
10
  • 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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