Big Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the table for Big Bay over the next couple of weeks.

Alright, so straight off the bat, the water is sitting at 56°, which is a solid 4° colder than what you’d expect for this time of year. That’s not just a little nippy, that’s seriously chilly for the season, so you’ll want the thickest rubber you’ve got.

The first few days (Friday the 11th through Sunday the 13th) are a bit of a mixed bag. The swell is building from the SW, but the winds are mainly cross-off from the SSE, which keeps things reasonably tidy. Friday morning sees a 6ft WSW swell with a period of 12 seconds, but the energy is moderate (1170) and the score is just ok. Saturday afternoon is a step up, with a 8ft SW swell at 16 seconds and the energy jumping to 2991, with offshore wind from the SE. That’s the start of something better. Sunday morning is the pick of this first block: 7ft SW, 14-second period, light offshore SE breeze at only 6 mph. That’s clean, lined-up, and the combined energy is a solid 2152. For an intermediate, that’s a very fair session, but at 7ft it’s starting to push into the ‘too big for beginners’ zone.

Then we hit a big gap of poor conditions. Monday the 14th through Tuesday the 16th is a write-off. Strong cross-onshore winds, lumpy and messy, with a few days of no real recommendation. The swell is all over the place and the wind is blowing it apart. Wednesday the 16th afternoon sees a return of clean surf with a 8ft SSW swell, 13 seconds, and combined energy of 3340 (strong). The wind is cross-off from the S at 16 mph, so it’s clean but a bit breezy. Still, that’s a long period groundswell and a powerful one.

Now, the real standout is the end of the first week and into the second. Friday the 18th is a beauty. Morning session has a 8ft SW swell (13 seconds) with a gentle offshore ESE breeze at 9 mph, and the energy is strong at 2867. The afternoon is even better: 8ft SW swell at 15 seconds, clean, offshore wind, energy at 3024. That is an excellent window for experienced surfers. The swell direction is directly from the SW, which is the optimum direction for this spot. Crowds are noted as “often”, so you’ll want to get out there early, but the quality is top shelf.

The following weekend is also strong. Saturday the 19th afternoon has a 10ft SW swell with an 18-second period, which is a very long period groundswell. The energy is 4675 – that’s very strong wave energy, and it will be cranking. That’s strictly for experts. A 10ft swell with that period will be heavy and powerful at a beach break. It might actually be more suited to a reef or point setup, but Big Bay is exposed and will be handling it. Sunday the 20th morning is glassy with a 8ft SW swell, 14 seconds, and energy at 2947. That’s possibly the best window: absolutely glassy, light winds, and solid, clean surf. For a surfer, that’s the one to circle – but again, 8ft is for the experienced crew. Beginners should stay well clear of both Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning.

After that, the surf settles down a bit into the second week. There’s a small window on Wednesday the 23rd afternoon with a 6ft SW swell, 16 seconds, SSE cross-off winds, and strong energy (2542) – a good session for intermediates. Thursday the 24th morning is also solid with a 7ft SW swell, 14 seconds, and a bit of a cross-off from the NE, which keeps it clean. The rest of the second week fades out with onshore winds and messier conditions, especially Friday the 25th with strong cross-onshore and rain. By Saturday the 26th, you’re looking at a moderate cross-shore chop and dropping quality.

Overall: the absolute best on offer is the Sunday the 20th morning session – glassy, 8ft SW swell, and clean. The next best is Friday the 18th afternoon, with 8ft and offshore wind. Both are for experienced surfers. The intermediate window is Sunday morning the 13th and maybe Wednesday the 23rd afternoon.

Rusty.

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