Bird Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's take a look at what Bird Rock has in store for us over the next couple of weeks. This is a bit of a slow burn, with most of the real action packed into the end of the third week and beyond.

The first few days are a write-off. From Monday the 17th through to Thursday the 20th, the swell is tiny—between 1ft and 4ft—and the energy is weak (around 85 to 674). The wind is mostly cross-shore or cross-off, but it’s just not doing anything for us. We’re basically staring at a flat spell for the first half of the week.

Things finally start to twitch on Friday the 21st. The swell picks up to about 3ft from the SW with a lovely 14-15 second period, and the combined energy jumps up to 910 – that’s moderate energy, but solid enough. The wind goes gentle cross-off from the W, so it’s clean. By Saturday the 22nd, it’s building more, hitting 5ft in the morning from the SW. The energy’s climbing too (1081), but the wind swings onshore and gets a bit messy in the afternoon. Still, for a late-season wave, it’s decent.

Now, Sunday the 23rd is the standout for this whole outlook. This is the one you circle on the calendar. We’ve got a solid 6ft SW swell rolling in with a 15-16 second period. The energy is cranked up – we're talking 1675 to 1730 – strong wave energy for the reef. The wind is offshore from the WNW in the morning, then moderate offshore from the NW in the afternoon. That means clean, glassy conditions at Bird Rock. With the swell coming straight out of the SW and this being a fairly exposed reef spot, it’s going to be powerful and lined up. Be warned though, this is over 5ft, so it’s no beginner wave, and with it being a reef break, don’t expect a soft landing. Expect a decent crew out there – it’s a "sometimes" crowd, so it’ll be worth paddling wide.

Monday the 24th stays good, with 5ft to 6ft SSW swell and gentle offshore wind in the morning. The energy is down a notch (around 942 to 1159), but it’s still clean and very surfable. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so no nasty surprises there.

After that, the week goes a bit sideways. From Tuesday the 25th through Thursday the 27th, we get a mix of lumpy cross-onshore wind and weaker swells. The energy drops to around 200-400, and the wind is fresh from the SSW. Not worth the paddle. There’s a gap of a few days with nothing recommended.

We get a little flicker on Friday the 28th with some 2ft-2ft waves and gentle offshore wind, but it’s small. Then, look ahead to Saturday the 29th of August – that’s our second real highlight. We get a clean 4ft to 4ft SW groundswell with a very long 17-second period. The energy is back up to 731 to 864. The wind is gentle cross-off from the NNE, so it’ll be clean and lined up. The long period will make it pitchy and sucky on the reef – better for the experienced crew.

And finally, keep an eye on Monday the 31st of August. We’ve got a solid 6ft SW swell with a moderate offshore wind from the WNW and strong energy (1262). That’s another expert-level day if the long-range forecast holds up. It’s a bit out there, so don't bet the house on it, but it looks promising.

So, to sum it up: Saturday the 22nd and Sunday the 23rd for the win this week. Next weekend, Saturday the 29th is your second best bet.

Stay safe out there.

Rusty.

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