Big Wave Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. The next couple of weeks are pretty gutless for most spots, and Big Wave Bay is no exception. We’ve got a long stretch of almost nothing on offer, so if you’re keen for a paddle, you’ll need to be patient.

We’re looking at a real quiet spell from the 14th through to the 27th of August. There’s technically swell in the water, but it’s tiny—ankle-biters at best. For days on end, the energy’s weak, readings are mostly in the single digits or low double digits, like 2 or 47, and the waves are just messy, cross-shore junk. The 21st does see a bump in energy, hitting 127, but that comes with a 40 km/h offshore wind—clean, sure, but it's blowing a gale and it makes it nearly impossible to paddle into anything. That’s not a surf day, that’s a “watch the horizon” day. The water temp’s a touch above average, 84°, which is pretty normal for this time of year.

The first real glimmer of hope shows up on the morning of the 28th. It’s still not epic, but the swell’s starting to fill in at around 4ft from the E, and the wind is cross-off and clean. Energy’s moderate at 102. It’s surfable, small and clean, but it’s a beginner-friendly size. By the afternoon, it’s picking up to 5ft, but the wind swings more cross-shore and it gets a bit lumpy.

But the standout, the one that actually gets the heart rate up, is the morning of the 29th of August. That’s when a proper pulse of swell arrives. We’re talking 8ft of ESE groundswell at 8 seconds, and the energy jumps to 857—that’s strong, real strong. The wind is light and cross-onshore, which is a bit of a shame, but it’s still the best conditions we’ve seen in the whole run. That size is well overhead, and honestly, it’s pushing into expert territory. It looks like it’s going to be a proper, heavy day. The afternoon backs off slightly to 8ft but the wind goes more onshore.

So, there you have it. A whole lot of nothing, and then one morning that could be worth the wait. Keep your eyes on that 29th. It’s a long way out, so don’t book your flights, but it’s got potential.

Rusty.

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