Big Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what Big Bay has got cooking for us over the next couple of weeks.

Overall, we’re looking at a feast-or-famine stretch. There’s a solid pulse of SW groundswell coming through mid-week, but it’s going to be a bumpy ride with the winds. The real standout is shaping up to be Thursday the 20th, with a big, powerful swell and light winds, but you’ll need your wits about you. After that, the energy drops off, then builds again for another serious pulse of swell rolling in around Saturday the 29th and into the first week of September. There’s a bit of a lull in energy after the first week’s pulse.

Right off the bat, Wednesday the 19th is a bit of a non-starter. There’s swell there, about 8ft from the SW, but the wind is cross-off and the conditions are just marginal. The water is at 55°, which is a fair whack colder than usual for this time of year – a full 5° below average, so you’ll be wanting a good thick steamer.

Now, Thursday the 20th is the real deal. The morning session is the pick of the first week. You’ve got a solid 10ft SW groundswell (combined energy of 3422), riding on a 13-second period, and the wind is light and cross-off. This is proper, powerful surf for experienced surfers only – it’s over 8ft and will be a handful. The afternoon has the same size but the wind picks up a fraction, so the morning window is your golden ticket.

Friday the 21st morning is still good – 7ft SW swell with light cross-off winds – still a big-wave but a bit more manageable. The afternoon gets a bit messy as the wind swings cross-shore.

Saturday the 22nd and Sunday the 23rd sees the swell drop off from the first pulse. Saturday is small and scrappy. Sunday sees a new 8ft pulse from the WSW roll in with clean, cross-off winds. It’s a solid size and looks fun, but the real power has gone.

Monday the 24th and Tuesday the 25th are both decent, with clean morning sessions. The swell holds around the 7ft mark from the SW-WSW and the wind is light offshore or cross-off. Good clean conditions for an intermediate surfer, but not the stand-out power of Thursday.

Wednesday the 26th is a bit of a write-off with a cross-on wind, so it’ll be bumpy. Thursday the 27th is much lighter, with a glassy afternoon that could be nice for a smaller board – only 4ft swell, but clean as a whistle.

There’s a bit of a lull on the Friday the 28th, with the wind getting on it again, but hold on for Saturday the 29th. This is the other big standout. The morning is packing 13ft from the SSW (combined energy of 4275) with a moderate offshore wind from the SE. This is a serious, expert-only swell. It’s big, powerful, and clean for a window. The afternoon drops a bit but is still huge and clean.

Sunday the 30th and Monday the 31st are blown out. The wind turns onshore or cross-on, making the big swell a messy, choppy affair. Not worth it.

Now, looking a week ahead to Tuesday the 1st of September. The forecast is looking promising for a big run of long-period groundswell. The morning is glassy with a 7ft WSW swell (combined energy of 1957) and a 14-second period. That’s a long period, which means better shaped waves but longer waits between sets. It could be a ripper. The afternoon stays clean with a light cross-off wind.

Thursday the 3rd of September is another potential standout to keep in mind. It’s a long way out, so take it with a pinch of salt, but the morning is showing a 10ft W groundswell (combined energy of 3983) with a glassy offshore wind. If that holds, it could be the best session of the whole outlook. The afternoon looks cross-on, so the window will be tight.

So, to sum it up: if you’re experienced, the top pick is the morning of Thursday the 20th. For the second week, keep an eye on the morning of Tuesday the 1st of September, and if you’re a real charger, the morning of Thursday the 3rd of September has serious potential.

Rusty.

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