Big Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, mate, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.

We’re looking at a solid run of surf coming up at Big Bay. The main event is a long-period SW groundswell that builds through the weekend and into next week. The water is sitting at 56.1°F and that’s 3.9°F colder than usual for this time of year, so you’ll want a thicker wetsuit. This is a notable cool-down.

It kicks off this Saturday morning, the 29th of August. There’s a 4.6ft swell from the WSW with a 14-second period, and the combined energy is 830—moderate, but the wind is light offshore from the east, so the waves will be clean. It’s a fairly consistent spot, but it does get crowded often, so expect plenty of company. Not a standout, but a decent start.

Sunday morning the 30th sees the swell bump up to 8.2ft from the SW with a 13-second period. The combined energy jumps to 2181—strong. The wind is a cross-offshore from the SSE, so it’ll be clean. This is getting big, though; 8.2ft is pushing into expert territory. Monday morning the 31st is a better bet: 6.6ft from the SW, 11 seconds, combined energy 1019, and still a clean cross-offshore breeze. It’s still a solid size, but more manageable, and the conditions are dialed in for experienced surfers.

Tuesday the 1st of September is a bit of a mixed bag. The morning has 7.9ft from the SW (13 seconds, 1915 combined energy) but the wind is cross-shore, not as clean. By Tuesday afternoon, the swell hits 9.8ft from the SW, combined energy 2561—very strong—but the wind is a moderate cross-shore, making it a bit of a chop fest. Not the pick.

Now, the standout is Wednesday morning, the 2nd of September. You’ve got 9.8ft of SW groundswell, 14-second period, and a massive combined energy of 3540. The wind is light and cross-offshore from the south, leaving the waves clean. That’s a big, powerful, long-period groundswell with offshore winds. This is for experts only at that size, but the quality is top-notch. The wave comment says excellent for experienced surfers, and I back that. This is the best on offer in the whole outlook.

Things ease off Thursday the 3rd with 6.6ft from the WSW, but the wind is a fresh 35 km/h cross-offshore, and the combined energy is still strong at 1248. By Thursday afternoon, the wind picks up to 40 km/h and the surf quality drops to poor. I’d skip that.

Friday the 4th is a nice reset. The swell drops to 3.9ft from the SW, 10-second period, and the wind goes offshore from the SE. Combined energy is 619—moderate. Clean, offshore waves for a fun, smaller session. Saturday the 5th is small at 3.0ft from the SSW, but the morning is clean with a light breeze. By the afternoon, the wind swings onshore from the WNW, and it’s pretty poor.

Sunday the 6th and Monday the 7th see a new pulse of long-period swell. Sunday morning is 5.2ft from the SW (14 seconds, 1104 combined energy), but a cross-onshore wind makes it choppy. Monday the 7th is the one to watch: 4.6ft from the WSW but with an 18-second period—very long period groundswell. Combined energy is 1593, and the wind is a light cross-offshore from the south, leaving it clean. That’s a beautiful looking wave for a point break like this, with long, clean lines. The wind is light, the crowd is often there, but this is a quality session.

Tuesday the 8th is smaller again, with 5.2ft from the WSW, 14 seconds, and light offshore winds from the SE. Clean and fun. Wednesday the 9th is tiny at 3.0ft with a weak cross-onshore—not worth paddling out.

Thursday the 10th is glassy in the morning. The swell is only 2.6ft from the south, but it’s dead calm, no wind. That’s a rare, glassy clean-up set for a fun little log session.

Then on Friday the 11th, another big pulse hits. 7.2ft from the WSW with a 16-second period, combined energy 2655. The wind is light cross-shore in the morning, so there’s some ripple, but it’s big and long-period. This is for experts again. Saturday the 12th stays big, around 7.2-7.5ft, but the wind is cross-onshore, making it choppy.

Finally, Sunday the 13th of September closes out the outlook with another 9.8ft SW groundswell, 12-second period, and strong combined energy. The morning has onshore wind, but the afternoon switches to a clean cross-offshore from the south, and the wave comment says excellent for experienced surfers. Another big finish for the brave.

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