Big Ben Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, grab your board and let’s talk shop. It’s me, Rusty, looking at the next couple of weeks for our stretch of coast. The long-range charts are showing a bit of a mixed bag, but there are definitely some windows to get wet.

We kick things off with a fun, albeit inconsistent, pulse of east-northeast swell. The first couple of days, Monday the 10th and Tuesday the 11th, have some size—around 8ft—but the wind is going to be the main character. Monday morning is clean with a cross-off breeze, but it gets chopped up by the afternoon. Tuesday looks like the better of the two, with a clean cross-off wind holding through the day and the swell easing slightly to 7ft. The energy is solid, in the 1700-1900 range, so it’s got some push, but this spot is inconsistent, so be prepared to wait for the sets. For a beginner, 8ft is getting on the big side, but the clean conditions will make it feel more manageable.

Then we hit a bit of a lull. Wednesday the 12th through Saturday the 15th is pretty poor. The swell drops and gets jumbled, with a lot of cross-onshore wind and a storm risk. It’s not worth the paddle. There’s a slight bump Thursday and Friday, but the quality just isn’t there. The energy tanks to the 400-900 range, and it’s just messy. I’d sit this part out.

Sunday the 16th is a tease. The swell comes back up to 7ft with a clean 11-second period, but it’s straight onshore from the southeast. The energy is solid—over 1200—but an onshore wind at this spot is going to make it lumpy and hard to read. It’s a maybe, but not a standout.

Now, here’s where things get interesting. Monday the 17th is the standout of the first week. We’ve got 7ft of east swell, a clean cross-off breeze, and the energy is up there at 915. The call is for “very good surf conditions.” This is the one to circle. The tide might be a factor, but the wind is right and there’s some push. It hasn’t been a perfect run, but this morning window looks proper.

After that, it’s a fade-out. The swell drops quickly, and the wind goes light and variable, but the waves just don’t have any size. From the 18th to the 23rd, we’re looking at ankle-biters to waist-high slop, with a lot of onshore breezes. The energy is weak, mostly in the 100-300 range. This is a long, flat stretch. If you’re a beginner, this is actually your time to get out, but for anyone wanting a real wave, it’s a desert.

The last few days of the window start to show a flicker of life. Around the 24th and 25th, there’s a new, longer-period swell from the south-southeast. It’s not big—5ft to 6ft—but the period jumps to 12 seconds, and that’s real groundswell energy. The energy readings are back into the 1000s. The wind is variable and light, which is a positive. This is a long-range call, so it’s promising but not certain. If it lines up, this could be the best of the lot, but it’s a week and a half away, so we’ll have to wait and see.

So, my pick of the fortnight is Monday the 17th. It’s got the best combo of size, clean wind, and solid energy. The long-range stuff on the 25th is a close second, but less of a sure thing. Don’t waste your time mid-week; go do something else. The ocean will come back around.

Rusty

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