Bunkers Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s happening for this stretch.

First thing, the water is running at 53°F – that’s about 3°F colder than average for this time of year, so it’s a bit chilly. Make sure you’ve got a thick wetsuit.

The pattern over the next 16 days is a slow start, then a big ramp-up. The first few days are pretty average. Tuesday the 15th and Wednesday the 16th have some weird, long-period leftovers but the wind is messy and the waves are tiny. Not much to write home about until we get some proper energy.

The highlight in this forecast is Bunkers. It’s a beginner-friendly, fairly consistent spot open to the west, so it catches everything from that direction. The crowd is *sometimes* a problem, so you might have to share.

The first half of the run is about waiting. From Sunday the 12th to Wednesday the 16th, you’re looking at weak to moderate energy (562 to 876) with waves around 1ft to 6ft. The wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore, so the quality is poor. Not worth getting wet.

Then we get to the good part. Thursday the 17th morning shows a big jump in energy – strong at 1659 – with a 8ft NW swell and the wind turning offshore (NNW at 15 km/h). That’s the cleanest window in the whole forecast. The period is short at 8 seconds, so it’s a bit wind-swell, but it’ll be peaky and fun on a good tide. The 22nd and 23rd of July are absolute monsters: 10ft to 12ft NW swell with very strong energy (1949 to 2538). That’s big, heavy stuff – expert-only territory. The wind is light and offshore at times, so the waves will be clean, but that size pushes through the beach break quickly. It’ll be a bit too straight for the points, but for a crew that knows what they’re doing, it’s a proper session.

The last week drops off a bit. From the 24th to the 27th, there’s still size (7ft to 8ft) with moderate energy (933 to 1333), but the wind is mostly cross-onshore, chopping it up. Not a total loss, but not the best of the bunch.

If I had to pick the single best moment, it’s Thursday morning the 17th – clean offshore wind, 8ft NW swell, and the energy is pumping. That’s the one to circle.

Rusty.

Read more