Big Ben Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.

Well, the next 16 days are a bit of a mixed bag for Big Ben. If you’re a beginner or just looking for mellow waves, you’re going to have to be patient. The swell is going to be a major player here, and for the most part, it’s just too damn big for this spot. The first real window of opportunity doesn’t really open up until the middle of the second week, but we’ll get to that.

Now, let’s start with what’s coming. The big news is a very long period groundswell from the SE that arrives on the 3rd of August. The water is sitting at a warm 82°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. But here’s the rub: that Monday afternoon, with a 8ft swell from the SE and a period of 17 seconds, the combined energy is massive at 3883. That’s a lot of power. The wind is a moderate cross-shore from the NE, so it’s not clean, but the real problem is the size. By Tuesday morning, the swell jumps to 12ft, and the guidance flags it as too big for this break. The same goes for Wednesday when we see a 15ft swell from the SSE. The wind is cleaner on Wednesday morning with a cross-offshore breeze, but 15ft is expert territory and way too much for a beginner-friendly spot like this. The energy readings are off the charts, hitting 9444 on Wednesday morning. This setup honestly looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

The swell hangs around 8ft to 10ft through Thursday and Friday, but the wind swings cross-onshore, bringing chop and making things messy. The combined energy is still strong, reading between 3308 and 4595. By the weekend of the 8th and 9th, the swell drops to around 7ft, but the wind is still cross-onshore, and the surf is described as marginal. The period is still a very long 15 to 16 seconds, which is good for shape but can make the waves a bit too straight at this beach/jetty setup.

Now, there’s a glimmer on the 10th of August. We get a 8ft to 10ft easterly swell, and the wind finally turns nice and clean, cross-offshore from the NNE. The energy is still very strong at 5920, but the comment says it’s too big for this break. So that’s a tease.

The real standout, and the only one I’d really call a winner, is the late window on the 15th of August. That Saturday afternoon, we see a 15ft swell from the east with a period of 11 seconds. The combined energy is a massive 7514. But again, the guidance flags it as too big. For a beginner spot, this is a no-go.

The truth is, there isn’t a single day in this 16-day window where Big Ben is going to be surfable for the average punter. The swell is consistently too powerful, and when it’s not, the wind is onshore. It’s a frustrating run, but in this area, blank stretches like this happen. The forecasts can change, but as it stands, you’re better off finding a protected reef or a point break if you can. Otherwise, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

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