Bonza Bay Surf Break

Lat Long: 32.99° S 27.94° E

Bonza Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 7 am 21 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Bonza Bay sea temperature is
18.6° C
1.1° 

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 21 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 25 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 15s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 26 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 17s period, S swell with 3,270 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 12s period with S 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 (Aug 21) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 8s. 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 2.4m 17s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 9s period and expected on Friday (Aug 28) at 2AM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11PM (Fri 21st Aug)4ft (1.2m) 12s
Best Surf 8AM (Tue 25th Aug)5ft (1.6m) 15s
Most Powerful 2PM (Wed 26th Aug)8ft (2.4m) 17s

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


The Lowdown

G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s have a look at what’s coming for Bonza Bay.

The next couple of weeks start off with a bit of promise, but there’s some real ups and downs along the way. The first real standout is Friday morning, August 21st. We’ve got a solid 5 ft SSW swell rolling in with a 12-second period, giving the waves a nice bit of punch. The combined energy is sitting at a moderate 610. What really makes it special is the glassy conditions with a light 5 km/h southerly breeze. Water temp is 66°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so you might want a wetsuit. Bonza Bay is a river mouth setup, exposed to the south swell, and it’s fairly consistent. NW winds are offshore here, and a glassy morning like this is rare – get out there early for the cleanest waves.

After that, things get messy. Friday afternoon sees onshore winds, and by Saturday morning the swell drops to 2 ft with a strong 35 km/h WSW cross-offshore wind that’s actually making it clean, but the swell is too small to get excited about. Saturday afternoon the wind cranks up to 45 km/h from the SW, bumping the swell to 8 ft but with a short 7-second period and messy cross-chop – that’s one for the experts only, and even then it’s not great.

Sunday morning, August 23rd, the swell holds at 8 ft from the SW, with a 10-second period and a moderate cross-shore wind. The combined energy rockets up to 1955, which is strong, but the wind is creating a cross-chop and the surf quality is marginal. Sunday afternoon stays similar but with a cross-onshore wind.

Monday, the 24th, drops to 3 ft from the south with a 13-second period, but the wind is onshore again. Not worth paddling out for.

Tuesday, the 25th, sees a 5 ft SSW swell with a very long 15-second period, and the energy is strong at 1144. But the wind is light cross-onshore, putting small ripples on the face. That long period groundswell can be tricky at a beach break like Bonza, making it break a bit too straight. Still, if you’re patient, there might be a few clean ones.

Wednesday, the 26th, is the biggest of the first week – 7 ft from the south with a 17-second period in the morning, energy of 2735. That’s strong, but it’s cross-onshore at 10 km/h, so it’s a bit lumpy. By the afternoon it’s 8 ft and choppy. Not a clean day.

The rest of the first week and into the second week is a mixed bag of small, messy, or blown-out conditions. Thursday the 27th has a 5 ft south swell with a 16-second period but a fresh 35 km/h NE cross-shore wind – lumpy and messy. Friday the 28th morning is slightly better: 5 ft south swell, 14-second period, light onshore wind, with a score of 3. Still marginal.

The standout of the second week is Sunday morning, August 30th. The swell jumps to 10 ft from the SSW with a 14-second period, and the combined energy is a massive 3008. But here’s the catch – the wind is a fresh 30 km/h cross-shore, and the wave comment says the swell is too big for this break. That’s only for experts, and even then it’s going to be a wild, powerful beast. Not a beginner’s day.

Monday, August 31st, has a 6 ft south swell, 12-second period, light onshore wind, and moderate energy of 1004 – marginal but not terrible.

The rest of the week into early September is small, with 5 ft or less, and mostly from the east with short 9-second periods. The wind is often cross or cross-onshore, making it choppy and uninspiring.

For the best of the forecast, you’ve got to point to Friday morning, August 21st – that’s the real gem with glassy conditions and a decent 5 ft swell. The second best is probably Tuesday morning, August 25th, with the long period groundswell, but keep an eye on the wind. After that, it’s a lot of waiting for conditions to line up.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Sat morning, min 14°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Fri morning, strong winds from the SW by Sat afternoon).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 19°C on Mon afternoon, min 14°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (calm on Mon morning, fresh winds from the NE by Wed night).

Friday
21
Saturday
22
Sunday
23
Monday
24
Tuesday
25
Wednesday
26
Thursday
27
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
3
2
0
0
0
2
2
0
2
1
0
3
2
1
2
2
0
1
0
0
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.4
SSW
12
1.3
SSW
12
1.2
S
12
0.9
SSW
11
2.5
SSW
7
2.5
SW
9
2.5
SW
10
1.5
SSW
11
1.2
SSW
11
1
S
13
0.9
S
12
1.1
SSW
15
1.6
SSW
15
1.6
SSW
14
1.6
S
16
2.2
S
17
2.5
S
16
1.9
S
13
1.2
S
16
1.6
S
16
1.8
S
16
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
598
494
397
200
627
1034
1450
467
337
361
213
566
1133
975
1297
2733
3021
1127
737
1321
1585
Wind (km/h)
5
S
10
ESE
20
NE
35
WSW
45
SW
30
WSW
20
SW
15
SSW
5
NNE
10
SSW
20
SSW
10
W
10
SSW
15
SSW
10
S
10
E
25
ENE
30
NE
35
NE
40
ENE
20
NE
Wind State
glassy
on
cross
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross
cross
cross
High Tide
9:02AM1.30m
10:17PM1.34m
12:22PM1.30m
00:43AM1.39m
1:40PM1.43m
1:43AM1.50m
2:17PM1.58m
2:20AM1.63m
2:46PM1.72m
2:50AM1.74m
3:12PM1.84m
3:18AM1.85m
3:38PM1.95m
3:46AM1.93m
Low Tide
3:07PM1.05m
5:23AM1.04m
6:17PM1.07m
7:15AM0.93m
7:39PM0.95m
7:59AM0.79m
8:18PM0.81m
8:30AM0.65m
8:48PM0.68m
8:58AM0.53m
9:16PM0.55m
9:25AM0.43m
9:44PM0.45m
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:39
6:37
6:37
6:35
6:35
6:33
6:31
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:43
5:44
5:44
5:45
5:45
5:45
5:46
 mm
2
Temp °C
18
18
18
21
21
16
18
18
17
18
19
17
17
17
17
18
18
17
19
22
23
Feels °C
18
17
17
15
13
9
14
14
17
16
17
15
16
15
16
15
13
12
13
15
20
  • 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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