Bird Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s cooking at Bird Rock over the next couple of weeks. It’s a bumpy start, but there are a few truly special sessions coming up if you know when to paddle out.

The first few days are pretty grim. Monday the 14th has tiny 2ft swell from the SW with a 14-second period and only 163 combined energy. It’s weak, and a cross-off breeze doesn’t help. Tuesday the 15th sees the swell jump to 6ft to 8ft, with energy rocketing up to 1320 and 2323, but a stiff 19 to 22 mph wind from the WSW and SW makes it lumpy and ugly. Not worth getting wet for.

Wednesday the 16th and Thursday the 17th stay poor. Wednesday has a solid 10ft swell in the morning with massive 5939 energy, but it’s coming from the S and the wind is cross-on, creating a total mess. Too big and too sloppy. Thursday eases to 5ft to 6ft, but it’s still cross-shore or cross-on with energy in the 842 to 1175 range. Nothing to write home about.

Now, Friday the 18th is where it turns on. The wind swings NW at 12 mph, going offshore and cleaning it right up. The afternoon gets a solid 5ft swell from the SSW with a very long 16-second period and strong 1839 energy. This is proper groundswell, and Bird Rock is a reef break that loves the SW. It’s going to be smooth and lined up. Water temp is about average for this time of year. This is the pick of the first week. Saturday the 19th morning also looks decent with 4ft swell and a light offshore wind, but the energy drops to 471.

We hit a quiet patch. Sunday the 20th has a strong offshore wind at 22 mph, but the swell drops to 3ft with a short 7-second period in the afternoon, and energy is only 288. Not happening. Monday the 21st sees a building 7ft swell in the afternoon with 3421 energy and a 16-second period, but it’s onshore from the ESE, so it’ll be blown out and messy.

But then, hold onto your wetsuit. Tuesday the 22nd and Wednesday the 23rd are absolute gold. Tuesday morning has a 7ft SSW swell with a 16-second period and 2275 energy, with a gentle NNW cross-off breeze. The afternoon is even cleaner with light N winds at 6 mph and the same 7ft swell. This is excellent, powerful groundswell at a consistent reef. Bird Rock will be pumping with long, steep waves. This is for experts only at that size. Wednesday the 23rd morning keeps the run going with 6ft swell and a clean NW offshore at 12 mph. Another beauty.

After that, it fades. Thursday the 24th through Saturday the 26th is a poor stretch of onshore winds and dropping swell, with energy under 500. Then there’s a late pulse Sunday the 27th with 6ft to 7ft swell and a 17-second period and 2424 energy, but it’s cross-on and onshore, so quality is a gamble. Monday the 28th and Tuesday the 29th are marginal. Tuesday the 29th morning has a 6ft SSW swell with a cross-off breeze and 1413 energy, which might offer a sneaky session, but it’s not a stand-out.

So, my call: the absolute best windows are Friday the 18th afternoon, and pretty much all day Tuesday the 22nd and Wednesday the 23rd morning. If you can only make one, aim for Tuesday the 22nd. That’s the big groundswell with light winds at a spot that just loves that SW direction. The rest is either flat, onshore, or too messy to bother with.

Rusty out.

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