Bonza Bay Surf Break

Lat Long: 32.99° S 27.94° E

Bonza Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 am 17 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Bonza Bay sea temperature is
17.5° C
2.6° 

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 17 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 20 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 20 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 11s period, SW swell with 2,401 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 17 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 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 (Jul 17) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Bonza Bay in the next 16 days are 3.0m 11s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 20) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 8s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 8AM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 5AM (Fri 17th Jul)3ft (0.9m) 13s
Best Surf 2AM (Mon 20th Jul)10ft (3.0m) 10s
Most Powerful 5AM (Mon 20th Jul)10ft (3.0m) 11s

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


The Lowdown

G’day, Rusty here, and I’ve been looking at the charts for Bonza Bay. The next couple of weeks have a bit of a mixed bag, but there are some real windows of opportunity if you’re patient.

Right now, the surf is a bit average. Friday the 17th kicks off with some knee-to-waist high, 3ft to 5ft SSW swell, but that cross-shore wind is putting a little chop on it. The vibe is marginal, not worth rushing out for. The combined energy’s sitting at 488 to 762 (moderate), so there’s some push, but it’s not clean.

Things start to look up on Saturday morning the 18th. We’ve got a 4ft S swell, period 12 seconds, and the wind is a light cross-offshore. That’s clean, and the energy is 690 (moderate). It’s the best of the first few days, but it’s not a standout for the whole window.

The real standout for this stretch is Tuesday the 21st. The morning is glassy – zero wind – with a 4ft SE swell, period 11 seconds. The energy is 456 (moderate), but it’s glassy. Then Tuesday afternoon gets even better: glassy again, with a 3ft SSW swell, but the period jumps to 15 seconds. That’s a long-period groundswell, and at Bonza Bay, a river break, it’ll shape up nicely. The energy is 573 (moderate), and the conditions are “very good”. That afternoon session is the pick of the first week.

Now, keep an eye on Friday the 24th. The morning is a bit messy – 6ft SSW swell, 16-second period, energy of 1714 (strong) – but the wind is light cross-onshore, so it’s marginal. But the afternoon? That’s where it’s at. 5ft SSW swell, 15-second period, glassy conditions, and the energy is 1098 (strong). This is “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers”. That’s a big call, and with the swell over 5ft, it’s a little too powerful for beginners, but for the crew who know what they’re doing, it’s a cracker.

Saturday the 25th could be a bomb if the wind plays ball. The morning has a 6ft SSW swell with an 18-second period, energy of 2420 (very strong). The wind is light cross, so it’s rideable, but the afternoon gets hammered by a 40 km/h cross-shore, making it a mess. That morning window is for experts only – 6ft is too big for most.

The end of the month and into August fades out. Sunday the 26th gets huge – 12ft S swell, but the wind is strong and the period is short (9-10 seconds). That’s not surfable, it’s a washing machine. From the 28th onwards, we’re back to small 3ft to 4ft E swells, short period (7-8 seconds), and while the 31st has a glassy morning with 4ft, it’s weak energy (286). The window is pretty much done by then.

So, the best on offer: Tuesday afternoon the 21st for the glassy, long-period groundswell. And if you’re an experienced surfer, Friday afternoon the 24th is a true standout – excellent conditions, solid swell, glassy. Don’t sleep on those. Crowds are possible at Bonza Bay, so get out there early.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Sat afternoon, min 15°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Wed morning, min 15°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light.

Friday
17
Saturday
18
Sunday
19
Monday
20
Tuesday
21
Wednesday
22
Thursday
23
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
2
2
2
3
2
2
!
2
1
3
2
2
3
2
1
0
3
1
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.1
SSW
13
1.5
SSW
12
1.2
SSW
11
1.3
S
12
1.4
S
11
1.4
S
10
1
S
11
1.2
SE
13
3
SW
10
1.3
SE
12
1.4
SE
12
1.3
SE
12
1.2
SE
11
1.1
SE
11
1
SSW
14
1.2
SSW
13
0.9
SSW
13
1.2
SSW
12
1.8
SSW
12
1.7
SSW
13
1.5
SSW
12
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
390
593
302
469
467
416
227
486
1636
511
555
478
350
263
413
482
303
400
918
931
639
Wind (km/h)
15
SW
15
SW
10
N
10
SW
15
SW
10
WNW
5
SW
15
SSW
25
WSW
5
SW
10
ENE
5
NNW
5
SSW
10
SSW
10
WNW
10
ENE
15
SSW
25
WSW
5
SSW
15
E
15
NNE
Wind State
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross-on
off
glassy
cross
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
cross-off
High Tide
6:01PM2.06m
6:11AM1.89m
6:41PM1.98m
6:49AM1.78m
7:21PM1.88m
7:28AM1.66m
8:04PM1.76m
8:11AM1.54m
8:54PM1.64m
9:08AM1.43m
10:02PM1.54m
10:41AM1.36m
11:31PM1.50m
Low Tide
11:38AM0.39m
00:06AM0.54m
12:14PM0.46m
00:46AM0.63m
12:51PM0.56m
1:26AM0.74m
1:29PM0.67m
2:11AM0.85m
2:12PM0.80m
3:06AM0.95m
3:07PM0.92m
4:27AM1.01m
4:32PM1.01m
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:07
7:07
7:07
7:07
7:05
7:05
7:05
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:20
5:20
5:21
5:22
5:22
5:22
5:23
 mm
Temp °C
18
18
17
19
20
18
18
19
18
18
19
17
20
20
18
22
21
18
18
18
18
Feels °C
15
16
17
17
18
16
16
16
16
16
17
14
17
17
18
18
18
15
17
17
17
  • 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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