Big Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about the next couple of weeks at Big Bay.

We’ve got a solid run of surf coming up, but it’s a tale of two halves. The first week has some real clean gems, but the second half turns into a wild, windy mess that’s only for the hardcore or the kited. The water is sitting at 56°, which is a solid 4° colder than usual for this time of year – you’ll feel that sting, so don’t forget the booties.

The standout window kicks off Sunday the 23rd and rolls through Wednesday the 28th. Sunday afternoon picks up a clean 7ft swell from the WSW with a 12-second period, pushing through with a solid 1532 (moderate to strong energy). The wind is a cross-off from the S at 9 mph, keeping things tidy. This is quality, powerful surf for experienced paddlers.

Monday morning the 24th holds onto that momentum. Swell drops slightly to 6ft from the SW, still 12 seconds, with a lighter cross-off from the SSE. The energy is still strong at 1044. This is another excellent session for the intermediate crew.

The real gem of the week looks to be Wednesday morning the 26th. The swell is a clean 5ft from the WSW, a 13-second period, and the wind swings offshore from the ESE at 9 mph. It’s a gentle offshore breeze and clean. The energy is a solid 1001. This is as good as it gets for a weekday session – glassy, lined up, and all yours.

Things start to fall apart Thursday the 27th with a cross-on wind and a drop in quality. By Saturday the 29th, the wind cranks up to 19 mph from the NNW with a cross-on, lumpy mess. Sunday the 30th sees a massive 12ft swell from the W, but with onshore winds and a 3593 (very strong energy) – it’s a churning, dangerous ocean. That setup is more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

Then we hit a massive gap. From Monday the 1st of September through to Friday the 5th, the swell gets huge – peaking at 16ft on the 2nd and 3rd with a 9089 energy reading. But the wind is howling cross-on or onshore, making it a total write-off for safe paddling. The forecast is consistently poor.

Finally, on Saturday the 6th of September, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. A 8ft swell from the SSW with a 13-second period, cross-off wind from the S at 12 mph, and the energy is still huge at 4011. It’s clean and powerful, but it’s over a week out, so keep an eye on it. Monday the 7th also shows a 8ft SW swell, but the wind shifts to a cross-on, making it a bit of a gamble.

So, the call is clear: hit Wednesday morning the 26th for the best, cleanest waves. The rest of the run is either blown out, dangerously big, or a long-shot promise for the second week. Stay safe out there.

Rusty.

Read more