Big Bay Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.79° S 18.46° E

Big Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 pm 05 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Big Bay sea temperature is
13.6° C
1.8° 

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 5 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 6 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 13s period, WSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 8 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 14s period, SW swell with 4,804 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 6 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 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 Thursday (Aug 06) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.5m and 13s period. 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 3.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 08) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8AM (Thu 6th Aug)11ft (3.5m) 13s
Best Surf 8AM (Thu 6th Aug)11ft (3.5m) 13s
Most Powerful 8PM (Sat 8th Aug)11ft (3.5m) 14s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about Big Bay.

We’ve got a proper run of solid swell coming, but you gotta pick your moments. The water is sitting at about 57°, which is a bit colder than what you’d normally expect for this time of year, so don’t forget the rubber.

We kick off Wednesday the 5th, but it’s a write-off. There’s some swell around 7ft to 8ft from the SW, but a fresh 30 km/h cross-onshore wind has it all chopped out and lumpy. Nothing doing for a surfer.

Thursday the 6th is where it starts to get interesting. That swell jumps to a serious 12ft from the WSW, and the wind swings to a gentle cross-offshore. The combined energy is pumping at (3728), so this is big, powerful, long-period groundswell. This is for experienced surfers only—over 8ft and it’s expert territory. The sets will be long and clean, but at a beach break, that long period (13 seconds) might make ’em a bit fat. It’s a standout for the big-wave crew.

Friday the 7th is the true gem of this outlook. Morning brings 10ft of SW swell with a clean offshore wind from the east at only 10 km/h. Energy is still massive at (3673), and the wind is going to groom it into perfection. This is the best on offer for anyone who can handle the size. Keep an eye on the afternoon as a light cross-on comes in.

Saturday the 8th still has plenty of size, 8ft to 12ft, but the winds get a bit trickier. Morning is clean with a light cross-off, but the afternoon brings a gentle cross-shore. Still good for the experienced lot, but not as pristine as Friday.

Sunday the 9th is for the chargers only, with 10ft to 13ft of swell, but that strong breeze is going to make it a battle. The conditions are clean but the wind is howling at 40-45 km/h. This looks more like a kite-surfing setup than a pleasant paddle session.

We drop off into the second week. Monday the 11th has moderate offshore wind with 6ft of S swell—a solid intermediate option. Then Tuesday the 12th is a real highlight: the afternoon goes completely glassy, with 5ft of S swell and clean long-period lines. That’s a proper window for a sunset session. From the 14th onward, the swell backs off a bit, staying around 5ft to 6ft from the WSW, and the winds are light. A standout in the late run is Thursday the 15th with a glassy 6ft—perfect for a quieter morning session. Past that, the energy fades and the wind picks up again mid-week, so by Tuesday the 18th we’re back to lumpy, blown-out junk.

Keep your eyes on the 6th to the 11th for the real meat, and don’t sleep on that glassy afternoon on the 12th.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Wed night. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri afternoon, min 10°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the N on Wed night, calm by Fri afternoon).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat afternoon, min 10°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WSW on Sat afternoon, strong winds from the SSE by Sun afternoon).

Wed
5
Thursday
6
Friday
7
Saturday
8
Sunday
9
Monday
10
Tuesday
11
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
2
5
4
5
5
4
5
4
4
4
2
2
3
2
1
4
4
4
4
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.3
SW
15
3.5
WSW
14
3.5
WSW
13
3.5
SW
13
3
SW
13
3
SW
14
3.5
SW
14
3
SW
14
2.5
SW
13
3
SW
14
3.5
SW
13
3
SW
12
4
SSW
12
3
SSW
11
2.5
S
10
2.5
S
10
2
S
10
1.9
SSW
12
2.1
S
11
1.4
SW
21
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
2233
4163
3611
3350
3267
3673
4370
3555
2221
3893
4445
3066
4072
2180
1209
1306
805
1082
1095
1615
Wind (km/h)
30
NNW
30
N
10
SSE
25
S
15
SE
10
E
10
SW
5
S
5
SSW
10
WSW
20
S
45
SSE
45
SSE
25
SE
35
SE
35
SE
20
SE
10
ESE
10
SE
10
E
Wind State
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
off
off
High Tide
7:38PM1.32m
8:20AM1.10m
8:48PM1.23m
9:52AM1.05m
10:22PM1.20m
11:32AM1.10m
11:55PM1.25m
12:48PM1.23m
1:05AM1.35m
1:45PM1.37m
2:00AM1.45m
2:32PM1.51m
2:47AM1.53m
Low Tide
2:07AM0.39m
2:13PM0.48m
3:28AM0.44m
3:47PM0.55m
5:09AM0.43m
5:37PM0.51m
6:32AM0.33m
6:57PM0.39m
7:32AM0.21m
7:55PM0.25m
8:19AM0.10m
8:44PM0.13m
part cloud
rain showers
light rain
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
light rain
light rain
rain showers
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:33
7:33
7:31
7:31
7:30
7:28
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:08
6:08
6:09
6:10
6:12
6:12
6:13
 mm
8
3
4
3
1
Temp °C
15
13
12
13
12
12
16
13
13
15
14
11
12
11
12
13
11
12
17
15
Feels °C
10
9
9
9
7
9
15
12
12
13
12
2
2
2
5
5
3
9
15
12
  • Map Icons:
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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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