Bonza Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s break it down proper. The start of this run is sketchy at best. Wednesday the 26th is your first chance, but it’s not pretty—8 feet of south swell with a 17-second period, so there’s real power behind it, energy reading’s at 3734, but the wind’s east at 6 mph and it’s cross-on, so it’s bumpy and the tide’s playing games. Water’s at 67°F, right about normal for the season. That afternoon the wind jumps to 16 mph from the east-northeast and it’s chopped. Skip it.

Thursday the 27th is a full blowout—25 mph cross-shore winds, messy both sessions. Don’t bother. Friday the 28th is where it starts to lighten up. Swell drops to 6 feet from the east, 10-second period, and the wind goes light north-northeast at 3 mph, cross-off. That’s clean. Energy’s moderate at 1085, and the notes call it excellent for experienced surfers. Bonza Bay is a river break, fairly consistent, exposed to south swell, and this east direction ain’t its favorite, but with that smooth face, you’ll take it. That Friday window is your first real standout. Afternoon turns cross-on and goes marginal.

Saturday the 29th morning is nearly the same—6 feet east swell, light north-northeast cross-off, clean—but the tide’s finicky. If you missed Friday, go Saturday morning. Afternoon drops to 2 feet and it’s messy. Sunday the 30th has a 6-foot south swell but the wind is screaming at 28 mph from the west-southwest—clean texture but way too much breeze. Afternoon is worse, cross-shore at 22 mph with lumpy chop. Forget the weekend.

Monday the 31st is small—3 feet and onshore. Not worth it. Tuesday the 1st has a glassy morning with 2 feet of east swell—surfable but nothing to write home about. Wednesday the 2nd brings 5-6 feet of south-southwest swell at 13 seconds, energy at 1052, but the wind’s cross-shore and it’s choppy. Marginal at best. Thursday the 3rd is a washout—heavy rain and near gale-force winds. Stay inside.

Now, the big one. Friday the 4th into Saturday the 5th—this is a proper swell event. Friday morning has 16 feet of southeast swell, energy hitting 5669, and the afternoon is 15 feet at 4219. That’s serious power. But this is way oversize for Bonza Bay. The notes say the wind and tide are favorable, but the swell is too big for this break. This is experts-only, and even then, a river mouth with that much water moving is a survival session. Saturday the 5th is still huge—11-12 feet from the east, offshore winds, clean faces—but again, too big. If you’re a charger, maybe Saturday morning, but honestly, this looks like a day for watching from the sand or kiting if you’re crazy enough.

After that, it fades. Sunday the 6th has 7-8 feet from the east but the wind is 25 mph offshore—too much. Afternoon is lumpy with a long-period south-southwest swell that’s all over the place. Monday the 7th settles to 6-7 feet east, light cross-shore, marginal. And from Tuesday the 8th on, it’s weak—4 feet, then 2-3 feet with onshore or cross winds. That second week is thin, no two ways about it.

Best bets? Friday the 28th and Saturday the 29th mornings—clean, head-high-plus east swell, light winds, and manageable energy. Everything else is either too big, too windy, or too weak. And that Friday the 4th to Saturday the 5th spike is real, but it’s a beast, not a playground. Keep your wits about you.

Rusty.

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