Bonza Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s get to it—this stretch of coast is going to test your patience. The next 16 days start slow, with a whole lot of nothing worth paddling out for in the first week. Cross-shore winds, lumpy chop, and not enough push. But if you’re keen and willing to wait, there’s a window later that’s worth setting the alarm for.

The only real standout is Bonza Bay (Eastern Cape). It’s a river mouth, so it’s a bit hit-and-miss, only *fairly consistent*, and you might have company—crowds *sometimes* show up. Nothing too wild though.

The early part is all about frustration. Friday the 14th has some chest-high stuff at 5 ft from the east, but the wind is all over it, and the water’s running at 63°—that’s a full 5° colder than normal for this time of year, so you’ll want the thick suit. The energy is only moderate (354), and with an 8-second period, it’s not going to have any punch. Saturday and Sunday are more of the same—cross-onshore, lumpy, and not worth the effort.

Midweek gets a little better. Monday the 18th has less swell but a cleaner light wind in the morning. Still marginal, but if you’re desperate, there are a few weak shoulders. Tuesday and Wednesday the swell shifts to the SSW and the period stretches to 13-14 seconds—that’s real groundswell with energy pushing into the 480-500 range (moderate). But the wind stays cross or cross-onshore, so it’s still textured. You’ll get some lines, but it won’t be glassy.

Then it goes sideways. From the 22nd through the 26th, it gets messy and way too big. The 22nd has 10 ft of swell with a strong breeze—that’s a total mess. The 23rd has a monster 10 ft @ 19-second groundswell, with energy readings at 8474 (very strong), but it’s way too much for a river mouth and the wind is on it. This is kite-surfing conditions, not paddle surfing. Thursday the 27th is your window. The morning shows 4 ft from the SSW with a 15-second period, and the wind is a light cross-offshore—clean. The model says “expect very good surf conditions.” Energy is still solid at 824. It’s not big, but it’ll be the best you’ll see all fortnight. The afternoon fades, so be early.

After that, it drops off fast. The 28th and 29th are back to small and junky. So, hold out for the morning of the 27th—that’s your standout. Everything else is just waiting. Keep the faith.

Rusty.

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