Bunbury Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ve been staring at the charts for Bunbury Bay, and honest to God, it’s a frustrating outlook for the next couple of weeks. We’ve got a lot of swell, but the wind and size are just fighting us for the first half. Hang in there, because there’s a glimmer of hope right at the end.

Alright, so Bunbury Bay is a beginner-friendly spot that’s fairly consistent and fairly exposed to the swell. It likes a good SW swell direction. Water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing out of the ordinary.

We kick off Monday, August 3rd, with a tiny 3ft west swell, but the wind is cross and the surf is just poor. Not worth paddling out. Tuesday brings a jump in size – 7ft to 7ft – but it’s a cross-onshore wind and the whole thing is choppy and marginal. Wednesday and Thursday are much the same; we’re looking at 8ft west swell, but the wind is on it, making it a messy, poor-quality surf. The combined wave energy is moderate (3263 to 3785).

Friday, August 7th, is a write-off. Strong WSW wind, 8ft swell, and it’s just poor. Don’t bother.

Now, Saturday, August 8th… that’s a tease. The swell jumps to a solid 10ft from the WSW, and the wind goes light and cross-shore. The charts say it’s clean, but the swell is too big for this break. The energy is really pumping (4471 to 4764), but for a beginner spot, that’s a no-go unless you’re an expert looking for a big, powerful paddle. Best to watch from the sand.

Sunday, August 9th, the swell drops back to 8ft, but the wind is light and cross-on, so it’s still only marginal. Monday, August 10th, is a mess with rain showers and a 10ft bastard of a swell that’s short period (8 seconds), so it’s just a crumbly, weak mess. The energy is actually weak (937).

Here’s where it gets interesting. Tuesday, August 11th. We get a clean, offshore breeze from the ESE, and the swell is a solid 12ft from the WSW with a long period of 15 seconds. The energy is strong (5615 to 6132). The wind is creating perfect, clean conditions. But again, 12ft is expert territory, and it’s too big for the break. If you’re a charger, this is your moment, but it’s not for the average punter.

Wednesday, August 12th, the swell drops to 8ft, and the offshore wind is still there, making it clean. The energy is moderate (2662). It’s marginal for a beginner spot, but the afternoon session on Wednesday (12th) is actually flagged as “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” The wind is fresh offshore, and the swell is 7ft with a 15-second period. That’s a proper, lined-up wave. For the experienced crew, this is a standout.

Thursday, August 13th, is similar with moderate offshore wind and 8ft west swell. Good for experienced surfers, but it’s still on the bigger side for a beginner wave.

Now, Friday, August 14th… Holy moly. The swell is a massive 15ft from the WSW with a 19-second period. The combined energy hits 15360 – that’s very strong. The wind is light and cross-off in the morning, making it clean. But this is a total bomb. It’s way too big for this break, and the cross-on wind in the afternoon will ruin it. Only for the absolute madmen.

The weekend of August 15th-16th, the swell drops back to 10ft and then 8ft, but the wind is light and variable. It’s still marginal.

Finally, the true standout of the whole outlook. Sunday, August 16th, morning. The swell drops to a perfect 5ft from the west with a 14-second period. The wind is glassy. Absolutely glassy. The combined energy is a weak 951. This is the sweet spot. The wave comment says “expect very good surf conditions.” For a beginner, this is the window. It’s clean, it’s a manageable size, and the long period will give it shape. This is the one to circle on the calendar.

Monday, August 17th, is still okay with a 7ft west swell and light cross-shore wind, but it’s not as clean as Sunday.

Tuesday, August 18th, is back to a 10ft swell that’s too big again.

So, to sum it up: the first week is a battle with onshore wind and messy surf. The second week has some incredible clean, offshore days, but they are for bigger swells and expert surfers only. The one true gem for everyone is that Sunday morning, August 16th. Glassy, 5ft, clean. Get amongst it.

Rusty out.

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