Bonza Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the table for the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a bit of a slow start, but Wednesday morning, the 5th of August, is where we get our first real taste. Bonza Bay is looking glassy with a clean 4ft easterly swell rolling in at 10 seconds. The combined energy is modest at 346, but with the water sitting at 65°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, you’ll want a decent steamer. The wind is dead calm, so the surface will be like a mirror. This is the standout of the first few days—expect good surf conditions, and it’s a solid option for intermediates.

After that, things get messy. Thursday the 6th and Friday the 7th see a shift in the wind, with a cross-chop developing and the swell dropping off or becoming confused. By Friday morning, the 7th, we get a glimpse of a very clean 4ft southerly swell with a 12-second period, and the glassy conditions return, giving us very good surf. But that’s a short-lived window before the wind cranks up again.

The weekend is a mixed bag. Saturday morning the 8th has a 4ft SSW swell at 14 seconds, but it’s a light cross-shore, so expect some ripple. The swell energy is building (764), but it’s not quite clean. Sunday morning the 9th brings a 6ft SSW swell at 14 seconds, with a combined energy of 1242, so there’s some real push behind it. The wind is light, but it’s cross-shore, so it’s a bit of a gamble. Sunday afternoon, however, the swell jumps to 10ft, but with a short 8-second period and a moderate cross-shore chop. That’s too big for this break and too messy for a good paddle session—honestly, it’s looking more like a kite-surfing day than a surfing one.

The first week wraps up with a poor run. Monday the 10th and Tuesday the 11th are a write-off: onshore winds, rain, and lumpy conditions. The swell is there, but it’s raw and ugly. By Wednesday the 12th, the wind is cranking at 28 mph, with 10ft to 12ft of short-period, wind-affected swell. Definitely not for the faint-hearted, and only for experts if you’re desperate, but honestly, stay on the beach.

The second week doesn’t offer much better. Thursday the 13th through to Sunday the 16th is a mix of marginal to poor conditions. The swell drops off, the wind stays cross or onshore, and the quality is just not there. There’s a gap of several days with no real recommendation.

Then, on the 18th of August, Tuesday morning, we get a little glimmer. The wind goes glassy again, with a 3ft easterly swell at a long 11-second period. The combined energy is 356. This is a classic groundswell, and for a point break or a river mouth like Bonza Bay, that long period can mean some nice, lined-up waves. Expect good surf conditions, but keep in mind that long-period swells often have longer lulls between sets. It’s not a standout of the whole forecast, but it’s the best of a pretty average second week.

So, to sum it up: Wednesday morning the 5th and Friday morning the 7th are your best bets for the first week, with Tuesday morning the 18th being a promising but less certain option in the second week. The rest is a battle with the wind or the size.

Stay sharp, and I’ll catch you in the water.

Rusty

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