Bonza Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll be straight with you – the next 16 days at Bonza Bay are a mixed bag, and we’ve got a bit of a wait before the first real standout. The overall pattern is dominated by a lot of marginal, choppy conditions, but there are a couple of windows where it all comes together, and they’re worth circling on the calendar.

Let’s start with the first few days. Tuesday the 28th of July kicks off with a 7 ft swell from the SSE, but with a 12 mph SSE wind blowing on it, it’s messy. The energy is there (1306), but it’s not clean. Wednesday the 29th is similar – smaller swell, but still cross-onshore winds. Thursday the 30th has a bit more hope with some clouds and a light breeze, but the swell is still a bit raw at 6 ft from the ESE. Honestly, through the end of July and into the start of August, the wind is a constant problem. The combined energy stays moderate to strong (between 760 and 1597), but the wind state is mostly cross or cross-on, leaving the surface lumpy. On Saturday the 1st of August, we’ve got 8 ft of swell from the E with a 25 mph NE wind and a “poor surf conditions” note – that’s a write-off.

There’s a gap of several days with no real recommendation here. The best of the first week comes on Sunday the 2nd of August. The swell is 8-8 ft from the E, period 9 seconds, and the wind drops to a light breeze from the NE. It’s cross-shore, but the energy is solid (1480-1597). It’s still not glassy, but it’s the most rideable we’ve seen. The break is a river mouth, exposed to the S swell, so it’s picking up a bit of everything. Crowds are possible here, so keep an eye out.

Then we hit a real standout. Friday the 7th of August – morning session. The swell is 5 ft from the SSW, but here’s the kicker: a 14-second period, which is a proper groundswell. The wind is NNE at 9 mph, cross-offshore, and the wave state is “clean.” The combined energy is 889 (moderate), and the forecast says “expect very good surf conditions.” This is the best on offer so far. That long period means the waves will have shape and power, ideal for a river mouth setup. It’s not too big for intermediates, but the long period can make it a bit walled at a beach break – here, the river mouth should help.

The next big one is Sunday the 9th of August. This is the standout of the whole outlook. Morning: 8 ft from the E, 10-second period, and the wind is WNW at 3 mph – glassy. Combined energy is 1388 (strong), and the description is “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” That’s a big call. This is for experienced surfers only – 8 ft is expert territory, and the glassy wind will make it perfect. The afternoon the same day: 10 ft from the E, 10-second period, combined energy 1607 (very strong), but the wind swings S at 6 mph, making it cross-on. The morning is the window.

Tuesday the 11th of August also deserves a mention. Morning: 5 ft from the SSW, 13-second period, wind is calm (0 mph), glassy. Combined energy 1162 (strong). Again, “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” This is a touch smaller, so it’s more accessible for advanced intermediates, with that long period providing quality.

The 12th of August continues the theme – 4 ft from the SSW, 14-second period, NNE wind at 9 mph cross-off, clean. Combined energy 1005 (strong). Good, clean, lined-up waves for the experienced crew.

To wrap it up: the first week is mostly a struggle with wind. The best windows are the morning of Friday the 7th of August, the morning of Sunday the 9th of August (the big one), and the morning of Tuesday the 11th of August. Water temperature is about average for the time of year, so no surprises there. Keep the long period in mind – it’ll favor the river mouth setup. Crowds are possible at Bonza Bay, but on those standout days, it might be worth the company.

Rusty.

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