Big Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, surf’s up. Let’s get into it.

Right off the bat, the water’s feeling proper chilly, a solid few degrees colder than it should be this time of year, so you’ll want the thickest rubber you’ve got. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

The next week and a half is all about Big Bay. It’s a fairly consistent spot, exposed to the SW swell, and it’s going to be working for a good stretch. The early part of the weekend is a write-off. Saturday afternoon has some lumps of 12ft of swell, but it’s messy with a light cross-onshore and rain. It’s all over the place. The energy is strong (4499), but it’s not a pretty picture.

Sunday’s got the size, but that 25 mph SSE cross-off wind is going to be howling. It’ll be clean, but it’s going to be a battle. That’s not a day for the faint of heart.

Monday eases off a bit to 8-8ft, still with a solid cross-off, but it’s cleaner. Still, I’d be looking past it.

Now, Tuesday is where it starts to get interesting. The wind goes offshore and light, 10 mph from the east. We’ve got 7ft of SSW swell with a 12-second period. The energy is still pushing (1228), but it's cleaner, more organized. This is a proper surfer’s window. Tuesday afternoon lightens up even more, perfect glassy conditions, though the swell backs off a little to 5ft.

But hold on—Wednesday is the standout of this whole forecast. The swell jumps back up to 6-6ft, but the period is a massive 18 seconds. That is a true groundswell. The energy jumps right up (2093 and 2118), and with a light ENE cross-off breeze, the lines are going to be long, clean, and powerful. This is the day to clear your schedule. The combination of size, period, and wind is the best we’re going to see in this run.

Thursday sees the swell swell back up to 8ft, but the period is still 18 seconds. It’s pushing hard (3417), but the wind increases to a 15-20 mph cross-off. It’s going to be big and powerful, but that wind might make it a bit wild. Still a good day for the experienced crew, but not as clean as Wednesday.

Friday drops off a touch and the wind swings to the north, a cross-shore wind that’s going to put a bit of chop on the surface. The magic is starting to fade.

But then we get another beautiful little window. Saturday afternoon the wind goes glassy, completely off, and the swell is a clean 6ft at 14 seconds. That’s a brilliant, low-stress surf. Sunday morning is also looking fine, with a light cross-off and 6ft of swell. These are the days for the longboard or the fish, just enjoying the clean lines.

There’s a bit of a stretch from Sunday afternoon through Wednesday next week that’s messier. The swell hangs around 5ft to 8ft, but the winds get variable and onshore at times. It gets a bit jumbled. The energy drops off, too. That Sunday the 17th has a pulse to 8ft, but with a light onshore wind, it’s not going to be great.

The final day of the period, the 23rd, shows a bit of life again with a SW swell hitting 5ft and a clean cross-off wind. It’s a nice way to finish the run, but it’s not a patch on Wednesday.

So, to cut a long story short: Wednesday the 12th is the one to wait for. That 18-second groundswell is a gift. The secondary window, with cleaner conditions and smaller waves, is Saturday the 15th and Sunday morning the 16th. Don’t bother with this coming weekend; it’s just too messy.

Rusty.

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