Bonza Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about Bonza Bay.

We’ve got a mixed bag coming up. The water’s sitting at a very cold 64°, which is 5° colder than normal for this time of year, so that’s a solid 4/3mm wetsuit situation right out of the gate. The pattern starts pretty flat and messy, with nothing really worth paddling out for until later in the first week.

Sunday July 5th is a write-off. We’ve got a weak 4ft SE swell with a short-period 11 seconds, but the wind is a cross-onshore mess. Combined energy is only 437, and the conditions are poor. No point even looking at it.

Monday July 6th stays small with 3ft SE swells. The morning is cross-onshore and marginal, but the afternoon gets interesting for a moment – the wind goes glassy, absolutely dead calm. The swell is still tiny, but if you’re on a log, you’ll find something fun in the clean, bump-free water. Low energy (183), but the clean surface is a treat.

Tuesday July 7th and Wednesday July 8th are a write-off. The swell stays under 3ft, but strong cross-winds (12-19 mph) kill any chance of decent shape. It’s chop city.

Thursday July 9th is where it starts to wake up. We get a clean 6ft SSW groundswell in the morning, period 12 seconds, with a cross-offshore wind. Combined energy jumps to 1116. This is a solid, workable size for intermediates. The wave quality is still “marginal” on the forecast, but the conditions are clean.

Friday July 10th sees a spike in size. Morning has a 8ft S swell at 14 seconds – that’s a lot of water. Energy is 2782, very strong. This is expert-only territory. The wind is light cross-onshore, so it’ll be lumpy, but for someone who knows what they’re doing, the power is there. The afternoon drops a little to 8ft, still meaty.

Saturday July 11th looks blown out. Strong NE winds up to 22 mph and a lumpy cross-shore chop. The 6ft S swell has energy but the wind ruins it. Not worth it.

Sunday July 12th is a quiet standout. Morning is glassy again, dead calm, with a 5ft SSE swell. The period is short (8 seconds), so it’s a wind swell, but the clean conditions and manageable size make it a good call for a relaxed session. Energy is 631.

Monday July 13th is the pick of the whole forecast. Morning sees a clean 7ft SSE swell with a light cross-offshore breeze and energy at 1273. This is excellent for experienced surfers – good shape, decent power, clean faces. The optimum swell direction is S, and this is coming from SSE, which is close enough at Bonza Bay to work well. Get on it early.

After that, the second week goes patchy. Tuesday July 14th and Wednesday July 15th are small and messy. Thursday July 16th has a 28 mph W cross-offshore wind – that’s a strong breeze, and the swell is puny and weak. It’s more likely to be good for a kite than a surfboard.

Friday July 17th sees a return of a 4ft S swell with a 13-second period, moderate energy (653), but cross-shore winds keep it lumpy. Saturday July 18th has more S swell (4-4ft) with a very long 16-second period – that’s proper groundswell. Energy is high (1164), but the long period makes it better for the point or river mouth setups. The cross-shore wind on Saturday afternoon will chop it up.

Sunday July 19th is small again with a 5ft S swell and light winds. Monday July 20th is a total loss – fresh NE winds and tiny, poor surf.

So, bottom line: your best chances are Monday morning July 13th – that’s the real standout for experienced surfers with clean conditions and solid 7ft groundswell. And if you just want a clean, small wave to yourself, the glassy morning of Sunday July 12th is your sleeper pick.

Rusty.

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