
Surf Forecasts:
Bonza Bay surf forecast from 12 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 13 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period, E swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 14 Sep, 11AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, E swell with 2,100 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 13 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period with E swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Bonza Bay this week:
The surf forecast for Bonza Bay over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 13) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 15s. Another secondary swell of 0.2m and 10s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-shore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Bonza Bay in the next 16 days are 3.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 14) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.5m 11s period and expected on Monday (Sep 14) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Sun 13th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Sun 13th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Mon 14th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Bonza Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Bonza Bay over the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, the outlook’s pretty grim. We’ve got a long stretch ahead with no good surf on offer. The first real chance of anything decent won’t come until late in the run, and even then it’s a big ol’ question mark. For now, it’s a whole lot of nothing.
The first few days are a write-off. Saturday the 12th is junk – cross-on wind at 16 mph, messy 5 ft ESE swell with short 8-second period, and the combined energy is weak at 359. Water’s sitting at 62°, which is a massive 5°F colder than normal – that’s bloody unusual, feels like winter’s hanging on. Sunday the 13th gets worse: howling 25 mph cross-on, 12 ft of raw power but it’s blown out, energy’s moderate (2255), and the comment says it all – poor conditions. Monday the 14th has some size – 12 ft morning, 10 ft afternoon from the east – and the wind’s cross-shore, but the swell’s just too big for this spot. It’s a no-go for anyone but experts, and even then, it’s a messy cross-chop. Tuesday and Wednesday the 15th–16th drop off in size but the wind stays onshore or cross-on, with marginal tide issues. There’s a brief window Wednesday morning the 16th with clean, cross-off wind at 12 mph and 4 ft of E swell, but the energy’s weak (555), and there’s light rain – it’s still only a 2/10. Not worth paddling out.
Through the middle of the week, from Thursday the 17th to Monday the 21st, it’s more of the same – onshore chop, cross-on breezes, and swell heights bouncing between 6 ft and 8 ft but with no quality. Combined energy sits in the moderate range (625–1574), but the wind and tide comments are all “marginal” or “poor.” Tuesday the 22nd and Wednesday the 23rd aren’t much better – smaller swell, light cross-on winds, and hardly any energy left (down to 235). There’s a gap of several days here where nothing’s worth mentioning.
Now, late in the forecast, we get a bit of a tease. Thursday the 24th has a weird 3 ft SW swell with a very long 15-second period, but the wind is onshore and there’s a risk of thunderstorms. The energy’s moderate at 754, but it’s a no-go. Then Friday the 25th afternoon gets interesting: a solid 12 ft S swell with a 17-second period – that’s proper groundswell, the combined energy is strong at 6557. But the wind is fresh cross-shore at 22 mph, and the swell’s way too big for Bonza Bay. The comment says “wind and tide favorable, but too big for this break” – so unless you’re an expert looking for a beating, give it a miss. Saturday the 26th has some cleaner cross-shore wind and 5–6 ft S swell with 13–14 second period, but it’s still only marginal. Finally, Sunday the 27th morning shows some promise: 7 ft E swell at 9 seconds, clean cross-off wind at 9 mph, moderate energy at 899 – that’s the best I can see, but the score’s still low. It’s a long wait for a so-so window.
If I had to pick a standout, it’s probably the Sunday the 27th morning session – it’s not epic, but you’ll get clean lines and a bit of power. For experts only, Friday the 25th afternoon has the size and energy, but it’s a beast and only for the brave. For everyone else, honestly, save your energy – this run’s mostly a blank. A river mouth like Bonza Bay needs the right combo, and we’re not getting it here.
That’s the story for Bonza Bay. This is Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Sun morning. Warm (max 22°C on Mon morning, min 18°C on Sun morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the E on Sun morning, calm by Tue morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 51mm), heaviest during Wed night. Warm (max 21°C on Tue afternoon, min 14°C on Thu morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the ENE on Tue night, fresh winds from the SE by Wed night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | ||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | SSW 18 | E 8 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 11 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | SSE 8 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
219 | 565 | 1541 | 1487 | 1701 | 2100 | 1962 | 1796 | 881 | 674 | 512 | 327 | 284 | 912 | 588 | 669 | 631 | 525 | 450 | 505 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 4:28PM2.13m | 4:39AM1.98m | 4:56PM2.08m | 5:07AM1.92m | 5:24PM1.99m | 5:33AM1.83m | 5:49PM1.86m | 5:59AM1.71m | 6:14PM1.72m | 6:26AM1.58m | 6:39PM1.57m | 6:57AM1.43m | 7:08PM1.41m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:34PM0.30m | 10:39AM0.27m | 11:02PM0.35m | 11:07AM0.33m | 11:28PM0.43m | 11:34AM0.44m | 11:56PM0.53m | 12:01PM0.57m | 00:24AM0.66m | 12:29PM0.73m | 00:55AM0.79m | 1:01PM0.89m | 1:39AM0.93m | |||||||
— | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | |
5:57 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | |
mm | — | 3 | 6 | 3 | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 32 | 12 | — | — | 3 | 14 | 9 |
Temp °C | 21 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 17 |
Feels °C | 20 | 18 | 13 | 14 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 24 | 22 | 20 | 20 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | E 9 | E 10 | SSW 13 | E 11 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | SE 8 | SSE 8 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SSW 14 |
85 | 565 | 688 | 487 | 1328 | 1537 | 131 | 1796 | 881 | 674 | 512 | 327 | 284 | 325 | 588 | 564 | 631 | 525 | 450 | 301 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SSE 7 | S 9 | S 9 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | — | S 12 | S 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 12 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | SSW 11 | SSW 12 | E 9 |
48 | 37 | 26 | 6 | 297 | 187 | — | 73 | 63 | 66 | 88 | 153 | 85 | 108 | 161 | 158 | 133 | 100 | 107 | 43 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 13 | S 10 | — | S 11 | — | — | — | — | SW 5 | S 17 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SW 10 | SW 10 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | E 10 | E 10 | — |
7 | 74 | — | 9 | — | — | — | — | 7 | 6 | 22 | 51 | 47 | 85 | 139 | 183 | 156 | 74 | 68 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | E 7 | E 8 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | SW 4 | — | — | — | SSW 4 | SSE 5 | SSE 8 | S 8 | SSE 8 | — | — | — | SE 9 |
219 | 303 | 1541 | 1487 | 1701 | 2100 | 1962 | 12 | — | — | — | 24 | 62 | 912 | 292 | 669 | — | — | — | 505 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 435 | 455 | 455 | 455 | 439 | 239 | 107 | 5 | 5 | 204 | 0 | 53 | 435 | 321 | 107 | 492 | 129 | 99 | 404 | 468 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Eastern Cape - Wild Coast | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Bonza Bay Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Bonza Bay provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Bonza Bay can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Bonza Bay surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Bonza Bay) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Bonza Bay may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Bonza Bay is 7 km (4 miles) from the city of East London. If you plan a holiday in Eastern Cape - Wild Coast, look for hotels and other accommodation in East London. East London has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.










