Duckpool Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let me level with ya. It’s Rusty, and I’ve been staring at the charts for Duckpool Bay all week. Truth is, this stretch from early July right through to the 18th is mostly a flat, blown-out mess. There’s no good news to start with. The first surf that shows up is on July 3rd, but even then it’s just a sorry 4ft of onshore-destroyed west swell. Wind is howling onshore from the WSW at 12 mph, making a mess of things. Combined energy is only 293 (weak to moderate), and the water is sitting at 63°, a big 4° warmer than usual for this time of year, which is notable. But don’t get excited – it stays poor.

The whole first week is a write-off. Small west swell, 2ft to 3ft, but nearly every session is plagued by onshore or cross-onshore wind. The swell period hangs around 9 to 10 seconds, so it’s not all short-period junk, but the wind ruins it. There’s no standout option. I’d say the only flicker of hope comes on Thursday July 9th in the morning: a brief spell of glassy conditions with an east wind at 3 mph, but the swell is a tiny 2ft from the west with only 47 combined energy. Surfable? Barely. Don’t paddle out expecting much.

The second week doesn’t save us. More west swell, but it’s small and messy. The weekend of July 11th and 12th sees stronger winds – 19 mph onshore and cross-onshore – with swell barely reaching 3ft. Combined energy climbs to 154 on Sunday afternoon, but that’s just from the wind, not quality. There’s a rain shower and risk of thunderstorms, so the water surface is lumpy. This setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddling.

The best on offer – and I’m scraping the barrel here – is Friday July 10th morning. A tiny 2ft west swell with a 9-second period, but the wind goes offshore from the east at 9 mph, and the surface is clean. Combined energy is only 48, but for a shortboard on a log, you might pick off a waist-high crumbler. Crowds are sometimes a thing here, so you might have the place to yourself given the lack of quality.

Other than that, Friday July 17th afternoon shows a sudden shift: a 4ft swell from the NNW, but period drops to a short 6 seconds. That’s windswell, and with onshore wind from the WNW at 9 mph, it’s going to be choppy and weak. Leave it.

Overall, Duckpool Bay is a poor bet through this entire 16-day stretch. Inconsistent breaks like this can go quiet for a while, so don’t hold your breath. The only days worth a look are July 9th and 10th, but even then, bring a log and low expectations. If you’re a beginner, the swell never gets over 5ft, so it’s not dangerous, just frustrating. For experts, there’s nothing here to get excited about.

Stay patient, mates. It’ll turn around.

- Rusty

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