Bonza Bay Surf Break

Lat Long: 32.99° S 27.94° E

Bonza Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 am 21 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Bonza Bay sea temperature is
18.3° C
1.4° 

Bonza Bay surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Bonza Bay surf forecast from 21 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 23 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 26 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 17s period, S swell with 2,950 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 13s period with SSW 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 Friday (Aug 21) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Bonza Bay in the next 16 days are 2.3m 17s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 9s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 27) at 8PM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8AM (Fri 21st Aug)5ft (1.6m) 13s
Best Surf 2AM (Sun 23rd Aug)10ft (3.0m) 10s
Most Powerful 5PM (Wed 26th Aug)7.5ft (2.3m) 17s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Bonza Bay over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, surfers, Rusty here. Let’s have a proper look at what Bonza Bay has got cooking for us over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, the water temp is sitting at 65°, which is a solid 3° cooler than what we’d usually expect for this time of year. It’s that bit colder than normal, so you might want to dig out the steamer if you’re heading out for a session.

The real standout window is tomorrow morning, Friday the 21st. We’ve got a clean 5ft SSW swell rolling in with a solid 12-second period, and the wind is glassy out of the SW at just 3 mph. That’s proper clean, unspoiled surf. The wave energy is moderate (610), but with those conditions, Bonza Bay will be offering up some really good, tidy waves. It’s a river break, fairly consistent, and can get busy sometimes, but with quality like that on offer, you’ll want to be in the water early.

Saturday the 22nd is a write-off, I’m sorry to say. The wind goes berserk, hitting 25 mph out of the SW, and the surf will be a messy, lumpy cross-chop. Not worth paddling out.

Sunday the 23rd stays pretty average. You’ll see 5ft SSW swell and some crosswind, but the quality is questionable. Monday the 24th is small and messy too – nothing to get excited about.

Now, here’s a bit of a long-range note for the following week. Tuesday the 25th morning shows some promise with a 5ft SSW swell and a very long period of 15 seconds. The energy is strong (1097), but the wind is a light cross-shore, so there will be some ripples on the surface. It’s a groundswell, and with that long period, Bonza Bay might get a bit straight and tricky. Worth a look if you’re keen, but keep your expectations in check.

We then hit a real rough patch. From Wednesday the 26th all the way through to the end of the month, the wind is onshore or strong and cross-shore, and the surf quality is poor to marginal. There’s some size, with a 8ft S swell on the 26th afternoon and a very high energy reading (3010), but the fresh cross-shore wind will tear it up. You’d be better off watching from the beach.

Finally, we get a glimmer of hope on Sunday the 30th afternoon. The wind drops right off to glassy out of the west at just 3 mph, and we’re looking at a clean 5ft SSW swell with moderate energy (601). That combination is a beauty – expect some very good, clean waves to finish the weekend. After that, we get into early September with a whole lot of lumpy, cross-shore junk and some seriously big swell that’s too large for the break. The 3rd and 4th of September see massive 13ft to 15ft SW swells – that’s expert-only territory, and even then, the wind and size will be pushing the limits.

So, to sum it up: get out there tomorrow morning, Friday the 21st for the best of the bunch, and mark your calendar for Sunday the 30th afternoon for another glassy gem. The rest is mostly a waiting game.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Sat morning, min 14°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SW on Sat afternoon, calm by Sun night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 19°C on Mon morning, min 14°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WNW on Mon morning, fresh winds from the NE by Wed night).

Friday
21
Saturday
22
Sunday
23
Monday
24
Tuesday
25
Wednesday
26
Thursday
27
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
3
1
0
0
0
!
2
1
2
1
0
3
3
1
3
1
2
0
0
1
4
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.4
SSW
12
1.3
SSW
12
1.2
S
12
1
S
11
2.4
SSW
7
3
SW
10
1.6
SSW
10
1.6
SSW
11
1.3
SSW
11
1.1
S
14
1
S
12
1.1
SSW
15
1.6
SSW
15
1.6
SSW
14
1.6
S
15
2
S
17
2.3
S
17
1.9
S
13
1.4
S
12
1.1
S
16
1.1
S
16
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
598
494
404
242
555
1389
555
551
430
453
279
558
1088
920
1232
2293
2950
1145
581
605
596
Wind (km/h)
5
SW
10
ESE
20
NE
35
WSW
40
SW
30
WSW
15
SW
15
S
10
NNE
10
SSW
20
SSW
10
W
10
SSW
10
S
5
SSW
20
ENE
30
ENE
35
NE
30
NE
30
NE
15
WSW
Wind State
glassy
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
High Tide
9:02AM1.30m
10:17PM1.34m
12:22PM1.30m
00:43AM1.39m
1:40PM1.43m
1:43AM1.50m
2:17PM1.58m
2:20AM1.63m
2:46PM1.72m
2:50AM1.74m
3:12PM1.84m
3:18AM1.85m
3:38PM1.95m
3:46AM1.93m
Low Tide
3:07PM1.05m
5:23AM1.04m
6:17PM1.07m
7:15AM0.93m
7:39PM0.95m
7:59AM0.79m
8:18PM0.81m
8:30AM0.65m
8:48PM0.68m
8:58AM0.53m
9:16PM0.55m
9:25AM0.43m
9:44PM0.45m
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
light rain
cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:39
6:37
6:37
6:35
6:35
6:33
6:31
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:43
5:44
5:44
5:45
5:45
5:45
5:46
 mm
4
1
Temp °C
17
18
18
21
21
16
18
18
17
19
19
17
16
17
18
17
18
17
22
23
21
Feels °C
17
17
17
15
13
9
15
15
18
17
17
15
14
15
18
15
13
12
17
19
19
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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.

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