Bunkers Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Bunkers. I gotta be straight with you – the next 16 days are a real mixed bag, and we’ve got a bit of a wait for anything worth getting excited about. The first few days are pretty much a write-off, so don’t be in a rush to grab your board just yet.

The window opens on Thursday, July 17th, but even then it’s only just creeping into the "maybe" zone. We’ve got a weak, messy swell pushing in from the WNW at around 3ft to 3ft, with a period of 16-17 seconds. That’s a long period groundswell, which means nice energy but long waits between sets. The wind is a mix of onshore and cross-on, so it’s not going to be glassy perfection. The wave energy is moderate (1100) but it’s still pretty marginal. It’s a step up from the flat days before, but it’s not a standout.

Now, the real talking point is the weekend of July 18th and 19th. Saturday morning, the 18th, we see a jump in swell height to 7ft from the NW, but with a short period of just 8 seconds. That’s windswell territory, and it’s going to be a bit of a wall. The wave energy is strong (1136), but the surface is likely to be a bit of a mess with cross-on winds. Saturday afternoon stays similar. Sunday the 19th backs off a little to 5ft, still with that short period, and the wind swings more onshore. This is more of a "have a look" situation than a standout.

The water temperature at Bunkers is sitting at 54°F, which is about 2°F cooler than average for this time of year. So, it’s a bit colder than normal – you’ll want a good wetsuit.

The best option I can see in the whole 16-day window, and it’s still a "promising but less certain" call, is the tail end of the forecast. Heading into the week of July 25th to 27th, we start seeing a more consistent pulse of SW groundswell. The period is getting back up to 18-21 seconds, which is proper long-period groundswell. The swell heights are around 3ft to 4ft, but with that kind of period, it’ll have some punch. The wave energy is strong to very strong (1416 to 1669 on the 25th and 26th). The wind is still cross-on from the north, but lighter, so the surface won’t be as chopped up. If you can wait, the morning of Sunday, July 26th, shows a 4ft swell from the SW with a 20-second period and light winds – that’s the pick of the bunch. It’s not a huge day, but the quality of the wave should be much better than the early windswell.

Remember, this is a beach break at Bunkers, and with those long-period SW swells, it can be a bit straight. But for a patient surfer, there’ll be some clean, lined-up waves. Crowds are possible here, so keep your eyes peeled.

Overall, it’s a slow start, a mediocre middle, and a better finish. Don't bother paddling out until at least the 17th, and if you want the best of the 16 days, save your energy for the 26th of July.

Rusty.

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