Duckpool Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for our stretch of coast.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – it’s a tough outlook. The whole 16-day window is a real struggle for anything decent. There’s a massive gap at the start; from now through to the 15th of August, it’s pretty much a write-off. You’re looking at over a week of tiny, weak swell and poor conditions. The swell energy is just pathetic, mostly in the single digits, barely cracking 20 in the afternoons (9 to 22). It’s flat, it’s messy, it’s not worth getting wet for.

The first sign of life, and I use that term loosely, shows up on the morning of Saturday the 15th of August at Duckpool Bay. This is a spot that’s exposed to the west, and it’s inconsistent, so it takes a bit of a swell to get it going. That morning we get a tiny 2 feet of west swell, period around 8 seconds, and a bit of energy (60). The wind is a cross-offshore from the NNE at 9 mph, which keeps it clean. But look, it’s only a 1 out of 10. It’s barely surfable. The water is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year at 65°, which is nice, but it doesn’t make the waves any bigger.

The west swell direction is a match for this break, but honestly, the size is just too small for any real fun.

Then we hit a real interesting, but tricky, period. Around the 19th and 20th of August, the swell finally shows up. On the morning of Wednesday the 19th, we’re looking at a solid 7 feet of west swell, but it’s short-period at 7 seconds and the wind is a moderate cross-onshore from the NW at 12 mph. The energy is strong (421), but it’s going to be choppy and messy. For a beach break, that combo is a real handful. Frankly, if I had a kite, I’d be looking at this setup more than a paddleboard. The onshore wind and chop will make it near impossible for a clean surf.

The "best" of a bad bunch looks to be Thursday the 20th of August. The morning brings a chunky 8 feet swell from the WNW, period 8 seconds, with a very strong energy reading (729). But the wind is fresh onshore from the west at 22 mph with light rain. That’s straight-up ugly for surfing. It’s big, but it’s blown out and dangerous. Only for the most experienced, and even then, it’s a no-go. The afternoon drops to 5 feet from the west, period 9 seconds, but the wind is still a moderate cross-onshore from the NNW. It’s still choppy. The direction is not ideal for this spot, which needs a clean west swell.

After that, it fades away again. By Friday the 21st of August morning, the wind goes glassy from the NNE at 3 mph, and the swell is back down to 2 feet from the west, period 10 seconds. The energy is weak (132). It’s clean, but there’s nothing to ride. The rest of the month looks flat and unremarkable.

So, if you’re asking me for a standout, there isn’t one. It’s a grim run. The forecast is pretty reliable for the near term, and it’s telling us to sit this one out. Don’t waste your time or petrol.

Rusty.

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