Bonza Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming down the line for Bonza Bay.

The water temp is sitting at 63°F which is a whopping 5°F colder than the usual for this time of year, so you’re gonna want a good-quality 4/3 wetsuit. We’ve got a long 16-day window ahead, but honestly, the first few days are nothing to write home about.

Thursday the 23rd is a write-off. We’ve got a weak 4-ft SSW swell at a 12-second period, but the energy is low (661) and it’s got that light cross-shore wind on it, making it lumpy. By the afternoon the wind picks up to a moderate breeze, so it’s just messy. The surf stays average through to the 24th, with a bigger jump in swell height Friday morning hitting 8-ft from the SSW, and the energy jumps right up (3605). That’s a solid swell, but the wind is a moderate cross-offshore, so it’s clean. The issue is that this size is getting into the “experts only” range for most. It’s also a 12-second period, which isn’t super long, but it has some push. Friday afternoon the wind swings onshore, so the quality drops.

Now, if you’re looking for the standout window, you have to lock in Saturday morning, the 25th of July. It’s going to be glassy. Zero wind. The swell is a clean 4-ft from the SSW with a 14-second period (945 energy), which is a lovely groundswell. That long period means more shape, more power, and longer lulls between sets, making paddling out easier. It’s a river break so that long-period swell should wrap in nicely. This is the one to aim for. Keep in mind the crowds can pop up here sometimes, so get in early.

We go through some smaller, wind-affected days until Tuesday the 28th when we see a new pulse of swell from the SSE, 8-ft with a short 9-second period. The energy is strong (2089), but the period is too short to hold a good shape, and it’s likely to be a bit of a bumpy, close-out mess, especially with that onshore wind on Tuesday afternoon.

A word of warning: Wednesday the 29th sees the swell pumping at 10-ft from the SE with strong energy (2285), but the file flat out says it’s too big for this break. That’s expert-only territory, and even then, the wind is a fresh cross-shore, so it will be lumpy and tough. This setup looks more interesting for kiting than paddle surfing.

From the 30th of July into early August, we’ve got consistent swell in the 7-ft to 8-ft range from the East and ESE, but the wind is predominantly onshore or cross-onshore, so the quality takes a hit. Not worth a special trip.

There is another small window that pops up around Sunday the 2nd of August. Morning is glassy again, with a 6-ft E swell and a 9-second period (554 energy). It’s not huge, but glassy conditions will make it fun. The swell direction isn’t ideal for the optimum, but clean surf is clean surf.

The rest of the first week of August is a mix of small, weak, and windy conditions. There’s a bit of a clean-up on Thursday the 6th and into Friday the 7th of August, with some glassy morning conditions on the 7th, but the swell is only 3-ft with low energy (309). A knee-to-waist high session for the longboard if you’re desperate.

So to sum it up: your best bet is Saturday the 25th of July for clean, shoulder-high groundswell. The second option is Sunday the 2nd of August for another glassy morning, though smaller. Everything else in this 16-day run is either too big with bad wind, too small, or too messy.

Stay stoked, and keep an eye on the sky.

Rusty.

Read more