Bud Bud Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ve been staring at the charts for Bud Bud and I gotta be straight with you – this is a grim stretch of water. We’ve got a 16-day window starting from now, and honestly, there's nothing here that gets the blood pumping. The whole period is a write-off for a proper surf. You’re looking at a solid two-week-plus gap with no real recommendations. It’s a tough run.

The water temp is sitting at 70°, which is pretty average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

Let’s run through it, but brace yourself. Friday the 28th kicks things off with a 5ft swell from the WSW, a period of just 7 seconds, and a nasty 19 mph onshore wind. The combined energy is moderate at best (228), but the surf is poor. Saturday the 29th sees the swell jump to 6ft then 8ft, but it’s all junk – onshore wind screaming at 22-25 mph. The energy climbs (394, then 803), but it’s a mess.

Sunday the 30th drops back to 4ft and 4ft, still onshore, still poor. Monday the 31st has a 6ft west swell with a longer 9-second period, giving us the most energy we’ll see (847), but the wind is still onshore or cross-on. It’s choppy, it’s crap.

Tuesday the 1st of September is a washout. Wednesday the 2nd gives us a tiny glimmer – a 2ft west swell with a 8-second period, light NNE winds going cross-offshore, and the wave comment says “surfable but very ordinary”. The energy is weak (40). You could probably get a few ankle-biters if you’re desperate, but it’s not worth the paddle. The rest of that day and through the 3rd, 4th, and 5th, it’s all under 2ft. On the 5th, Saturday morning, we get a clean 2ft with a gentle ENE offshore, but it’s tiny. Energy (46). You’d be on a foamie.

From the 6th of September onwards, it’s all under 1ft, period dropping to 6–9 seconds, and the wind is mostly cross-on or onshore. The 9th of September Wednesday morning goes glassy with a whisper of northerly wind, but the swell is only 1ft. That’s the definition of flat. The 11th has a clean offshore NE wind on the Friday morning, but again, only 2ft. By the 12th, it’s over.

So, what’s the best of a bad bunch? Honestly, there isn’t one. If I had to point to any session, it’d be Wednesday the 2nd of September morning – a 2ft west swell, light cross-offshore breeze, clean conditions. Or maybe Saturday the 5th of September morning with that little offshore and 2ft. But mate, that’s not a surf, that’s a paddle with a view. For a beginner, there’s nothing over 5ft to be scared of, but there’s nothing worth getting wet for either.

The setup here looks more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer given the onshore winds and the swell size, but I’m not here to talk about kites.

It’s a bleak outlook. Sometimes the ocean just shuts down. Keep the board in the car, but don’t bother waxing it up. Let’s hope the forecasts change.

Rusty.

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