Big Bay Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.79° S 18.46° E

Big Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 am 23 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Big Bay sea temperature is
12.9°C
2.7° 

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 23 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 23 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 13s period, WSW swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Tuesday 25 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 14s period, SW swell with 2,471 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 23 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 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 Sunday (Aug 23) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.3m and 13s period. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Big Bay in the next 16 days are 2.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 25) 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 1.6m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 2PM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8AM (Sun 23rd Aug)7.5ft (2.3m) 13s
Best Surf 8AM (Sun 23rd Aug)7.5ft (2.3m) 13s
Most Powerful 5AM (Tue 25th Aug)8ft (2.5m) 14s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here. Let's talk about what's coming up in the water.

The first week is a bit of a mixed bag, but there's some real quality to be found if you're willing to pick your moments. We start off on Sunday the 23rd of August with a solid 7ft swell from the west-southwest, bringing a ton of energy. The wind is light and cross-off, so the lines are going to be clean. The water is currently sitting at 55°, which is a whopping 5° colder than normal for this time of year, so you'll want a good, thick hood. This is excellent surf, but it's a bit too big for beginners and best left to the experienced crew. Monday morning, the 24th, drops to 6ft out of the southwest, still holding good energy and staying clean. Tuesday the 25th brings a pulse back up to 7ft, this time with a really long 14-second period from the southwest, which is proper groundswell. The energy jumps, but the wind picks up to a side-off. It’s still clean, but the longer period might make it a bit walled-off at this exposed spot.

The clear standout is Wednesday the 26th of August. The swell drops slightly to 4ft, but it's coming from the west-southwest with a 13-second period under a glassy offshore breeze. That’s a major positive. The energy is still solid, and the conditions are described as "gentle offshore and clean" – that’s the kind of morning you get out of bed for. It’s not the biggest of the week, but the quality is going to be there.

From Thursday the 27th through to the 31st, the wind gets messy. We get a strong northwesterly breeze that puts a real chop on the surface, and the quality drops right off. The swell hangs around the 4ft to 6ft mark, but the cross-onshore wind makes it a write-off for a few days. It’s a bit of a dry spell.

Then we get a real long-range promise. On Tuesday the 1st of September, the bottom drops out and the wind turns back offshore. A serious 10ft swell from the southwest with a 13-second period hits, and the energy is massive. The wind is a gentle offshore, which is going to make for some incredible, big, clean waves. This is definitely for the experts only, as it’s way over 8ft. It’s a long way off, but keep an eye on this one.

The week after that looks windy and choppy again with a lot of cross-onshore wind, so that Tuesday morning is the one to circle.

Rusty, signing off.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Tue afternoon, min 12°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Wed afternoon, min 13°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light.

Sunday
23
Monday
24
Tuesday
25
Wednesday
26
Thursday
27
Friday
28
Saturday
29
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
3
2
3
3
3
4
3
4
3
2
2
3
3
3
3
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.2
WSW
13
2.2
WSW
12
2.1
WSW
12
1.9
SW
12
1.2
WSW
11
2.4
SW
14
2.2
SW
14
2.1
WSW
14
1.7
WSW
13
1.3
WSW
13
1.3
WSW
12
1.4
SSW
11
1.5
SSW
11
1.3
SSW
11
1.2
S
11
1.1
S
11
1.2
WSW
14
1.3
WSW
14
1.3
WSW
14
1.4
WSW
14
1.5
WSW
13
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1606
1532
1236
913
376
2423
1922
1638
1045
587
466
495
540
394
351
279
534
633
613
693
744
Wind (km/h)
10
S
15
S
10
SE
15
SSE
20
SSE
15
SSE
20
SSE
25
SSE
20
ESE
15
ESE
10
SE
10
NE
10
NW
5
WNW
5
SSE
10
SE
10
SE
10
ENE
40
NNW
30
NNW
50
NW
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
on
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
High Tide
12:58PM1.07m
1:01AM1.13m
1:36PM1.19m
1:40AM1.24m
2:08PM1.31m
2:13AM1.33m
2:36PM1.42m
2:44AM1.41m
3:04PM1.52m
3:14AM1.47m
3:32PM1.59m
3:44AM1.50m
4:01PM1.63m
4:16AM1.50m
Low Tide
7:07PM0.56m
7:27AM0.41m
7:45PM0.45m
7:59AM0.30m
8:17PM0.34m
8:27AM0.21m
8:46PM0.24m
8:54AM0.14m
9:15PM0.16m
9:21AM0.09m
9:44PM0.10m
9:49AM0.07m
10:14PM0.07m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:16
7:15
7:13
7:11
7:11
7:09
7:09
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:21
6:22
6:22
6:22
6:23
6:24
6:24
 mm
5
Temp °C
14
16
13
15
18
13
16
19
16
18
25
22
21
18
16
21
24
23
23
19
15
Feels °C
12
14
11
12
15
10
12
14
12
15
23
20
19
16
15
18
20
20
15
12
9
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  • 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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