Buffalo Bay Wildside Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s talk about Buffalo Bay Wildside. We got 16 days to look at, and it’s a real rollercoaster – plenty of size, but you gotta pick your moments or you’ll get cleaned up. The water’s sittin’ at about 62°, right on the mark for this time of year, nothin’ unusual.

Right off the bat, we got some surf Wednesday morning, August 5th. It’s a modest 4 ft from the SSW, but with that cross-on breeze and a period pushing 15 seconds, it ain’t doin’ us any favours. The energy’s pumpin’ at 1147 – moderate – but the quality is marginal. Not worth paddlin’ out for.

The real story, and the standout of the whole forecast, is Friday, August 7th. We get a solid 8 ft swell from the southwest, with a period of 14 to 15 seconds. That’s a proper groundswell. The wind swings around to the ESE, clean, cross-offshore all day. The wave energy is through the roof – 2817 in the morning, up to 3308 by the arvo. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers. The swell is a bit big for beginners, and because it’s a long-period swell, it might jack up fast on the beach, but the quality is there. Crowds are *sometimes* a thing here, so you might have a few mates out.

Thursday, August 6th, is a write-off for paddle surf. We got 10 ft to 12 ft from the SW, onshore wind, and the energy is massive – 3703. That’s just too big and messy. If you’re into kiting, the setup looks more interesting than paddle surf.

Saturday the 8th drops off quick. The swell drops to 8 ft but the wind turns cross-on and choppy. Energy’s still decent at 2262, but the surface is junk. Sunday the 9th is another one to skip – heavy rain, howlin’ cross-shore wind at 25 mph, and a 10 ft swell turnin’ to chop. That’s a zero.

Monday the 10th sees the swell drop to 5 ft to 6 ft. The wind is fresh and cross-off, so it’s clean, but the energy is still moderate. It’s rideable but nothin’ special. Then Tuesday the 11th through Thursday the 14th is just chaos again: 10 ft to 13 ft from the ESE, all of it too big and directed for experts. The wind is cross-off and clean, but the swell size is just too much for most. The energy readings are astronomical – 3950 on the 12th – but it ain’t for the faint of heart.

Now, after that rough patch, we get a second standout. On Thursday afternoon, August 14th, the swell cleans right up. It drops to 5 ft from the SW, with a 14-second period. The wind goes glassy, and the energy is still a healthy 2720. That’s excellent conditions for more experienced surfers, and it’ll be some of the cleanest waves of the whole run.

Friday the 15th is small and fadin’. By Sunday the 17th, we’re down to tiny 2 ft waves – glassy, but barely surfable. Then Tuesday, August 19th, we get a nice little pulse: 7 ft to 7 ft from the SW, glassy conditions, excellent for experienced surfers. That’s a real hidden gem in the second week. After that, the swell drops off again, and by Thursday the 21st, we’re lookin’ at 7 ft from the SW but with a fresh onshore breeze makin’ a mess of it.

So, overall: the standout is Friday, August 7th, with that solid 8 ft SW groundswell and clean cross-off wind. The other diamond is Thursday afternoon, August 14th. There’s a long gap in quality surf between the 8th and the 13th, so don’t waste your time chasin’ it midweek. Keep an eye on that Tuesday the 19th as a second-week wildcard. Be smart out there.

Rusty.

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