Big Ben Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s cookin’ at Big Ben over the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, I gotta be straight with you—the first week is a real struggle. From Sunday the 26th of July right through to Saturday the 1st of August, we’re looking at a grim stretch of tiny, weak, messy surf. The swell energy is all over the place, but it's mostly weak to moderate, and the wind is just rubbish—cross-shore, cross-onshore, and a bit of chop. Nothing worth paddling out for. You’ll be fighting the elements for little reward. It’s a real dry spell.

But then, hold onto your board shorts, because things get proper interesting from Monday the 3rd of August. A big groundswell pushes in from the ESE. The swell energy jumps to a massive 1740 (very strong) by Monday morning, and it’s packing 6 ft at a long 16 seconds. That’s proper groundswell energy. The problem is the wind is cross-shore and cross-onshore, so it’s gonna be a bit lumpy, but we’re talking waves now.

The standout moment, without a doubt, is Tuesday the 4th of August. We’ve got a solid 10 ft of ESE swell with a 16-second period, and the combined energy is a whopping 4147 to 4711 (very strong wave energy). The wind is a gentle cross-shore, which is actually workable. BUT—and this is a big but—this is a beginner-friendly beach/jetty break, and 10 ft is way too big for beginners. This is expert territory only. The swell is predicted to be too big for this break, so it’s going to be a wild, heavy, powerful scene. If you’re an experienced local who knows the sandbanks, it could be a proper session, but it’s not for the faint-hearted.

The same goes for Wednesday the 5th through to Saturday the 9th of August. We’re looking at 13 ft to 26 ft of ESE swell with periods of 16-17 seconds. The energy numbers are off the charts—9536, 16327, even 41312 (extremely strong wave energy). This is a full-on, life-threatening swell for this spot. The wind is cross-shore or cross-onshore, but honestly, at those sizes, it’s a big-wave event if you’re brave enough. The break is simply too exposed for most. For the average surfer, it’s a no-go, but for the big-wave chargers with a jetski? This is the play.

By Monday the 10th of August, it finally drops back to a more manageable 4 ft from the E (13 seconds) with onshore wind, but the energy is still 1077 (moderate). It’s a bit of a comedown after the big week.

So, the best on offer? Tuesday the 4th of August is the pick of the litter for experts only, with that powerful 10 ft ESE groundswell. If you’re a beginner, steer clear of the whole second week—it’s way too big. The water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing weird to report.

Stay safe out there.

Rusty.

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