Bunkers Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.

So, we’ve got a solid stretch of NW swell coming through for the entire 16-day window, but it’s a bit of a mixed bag. The main break, Bunkers, is a beginner-friendly spot, and it’s fairly consistent, but the wind is going to be a constant issue. The water temp is about average for the time of year, so a wetsuit is pretty standard.

The first few days, starting Wednesday the 5th and into Thursday the 6th of August, are a rough start. Swell is there, around 3ft to 5ft from the NW, but the energy is moderate (445 down to 235), and the wind is cross or onshore. The period is short at 8 seconds, so the waves are a bit weak and mushy. The forecast calls it marginal, and honestly, it’s not worth paddling out for.

The first real standout isn’t until Saturday the 8th of August. The swell picks up to 6ft in the morning, building to 7ft in the afternoon from the NNW, with moderate to strong energy (609 to 788). The wind is onshore or cross-onshore though, which is a bummer, so it’s not clean. It’s a missed opportunity.

Sunday the 9th of August sees the swell jump to a solid 10ft from the NNW. The energy is strong (1320 to 1330), but the period is still short at 8 to 9 seconds. The wind is cross-onshore and choppy. At this size, 10ft is only for experts, and the chop makes it a messy, challenging paddle. This continues into the next week, with Monday and Tuesday the 10th and 11th of August holding 10ft with strong energy (1738 on Monday afternoon), but the onshore and cross-onshore winds ruin the shape. The setup at Bunkers looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing during this period.

The second week calms down a bit. By Wednesday the 12th of August, the swell drops to 8ft, and by Friday the 14th, it’s a more manageable 7ft from the NNW. The energy is moderate to strong (965 to 885). The wind is still mostly cross-onshore, but lighter, with some periods of light cross-onshore with small wind ripples. The best chance in this whole run looks like Saturday the 15th of August. The morning has 8ft NNW swell with strong energy (1228), and the wind is a light cross-onshore, making for the cleanest conditions of the entire forecast. The period is 9 seconds, which is decent. This is your best bet for a session, but keep in mind it’s still a bit on the bigger side for beginners.

Sunday the 16th of August onward sees the swell staying around 7ft to 8ft with moderate to strong energy, but the wind is never truly offshore. It’s either onshore or cross-onshore, so the waves will always have that bit of chop. The last few days, from the 18th of August, the swell drops back to 5ft to 5ft, with weak to moderate energy, and the wind is a mix of cross and onshore. The final day, Thursday the 20th of August, the waves are poor.

So, to sum it up: you’ve got plenty of swell, but the wind is the enemy. The standouts are Saturday the 15th of August morning for the cleanest conditions, and maybe the 12th of August if you’re an expert looking for a 8ft onshore challenge. For the rest of the time, it’s a tough call. The crowds at Bunkers are sometimes a factor, but with the messy conditions, it might not be as packed.

Rusty.

Read more