Cox Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, this is Rusty, and I’m lookin’ at the next stretch for Cox Bay. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, so let’s break it down.

We’re starting off here on Wednesday the 19th with small, marginal surf. The water temperature is sitting at 58°F, which is about normal for this time of year, nothin’ to write home about. The first few days are pretty underwhelming. We’ve got waist-high swell from the west, but the wind is cross or onshore, so it’s not gonna be clean. Thursday the 20th afternoon sees a bit more size, maybe 4ft from the west, but the wind is onshore and the energy is still moderate. It’s not great.

Friday and Saturday are small and inconsistent, with a weak, short-period swell. Saturday the 22nd afternoon has a little 4ft west swell with cross-offshore winds, so it might be clean, but the period is only 7 seconds, so it’ll be weak and crumbly. The wave energy is low – not worth paddlin’ out for.

Then we hit a real dry spell. From Sunday the 23rd all the way through the end of the month, the surf is poor. We’re talkin’ 1ft to 2ft, onshore winds, and low energy. There’s a few days with some long-period groundswell, like 16-18 seconds, but it’s tiny and the wind is rubbish. The combined energy stays low. It’s a long gap of flat, messy conditions.

Now, there’s a glimmer of hope. The best of the whole outlook, and the standout, is on Sunday, August 30th. The afternoon session at Cox Bay is looking like a real winner. We’ll have a 3ft swell from the SSW, with a solid 17-second period – that’s proper groundswell energy. The wind is offshore from the ESE at 16 mph, which is gonna groom those waves into clean lines. The wave energy is moderate, and the wave comment says “expect very good surf conditions.” This is the one to circle on the calendar. It’s a great option for a longboard or a funboard, and the offshore wind will keep the crowds manageable, though it’s known to be “sometimes” crowded, so get out there early.

Monday the 31st also looks promising, with glassy conditions in the morning and afternoon, waist-high SSW swell at 15-16 seconds, but the energy is a bit lower. Still, clean waves are on offer.

After that, the first week of September is a bit of a gamble. The morning of September 3rd is another standout – a 6ft swell from the west, 10-second period, and glassy conditions. That’s gonna be a fun, punchy wave for the guys who know what they’re doin’. The energy is strong. But be aware: that size is getting into the “too big for beginners” territory. The afternoon is less clean with cross-onshore winds.

So, to wrap it up: the next week and a half is mostly flat and poor. The big winner is Sunday, August 30th afternoon – get your gear ready. If you can wait, September 3rd morning has some proper size and glass for the experienced crew. The rest is a wait-and-see game.

Stay psyched, stay patient.

Rusty

Read more