Duckpool Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks. I’ll be honest, the forecast is a bit of a mixed bag and there’s a fair bit of patience required.

We start off this Wednesday with a tiny bit of swell at Duckpool Bay. It’s only 2ft from the west with a short 8-second period, so nothing to get excited about. The water is sitting at 66°, which is a solid 5° warmer than normal for this time of year. That’s a nice touch, but the wave energy is weak (47). The morning has a light cross-off wind, so it’s clean, but it’s pretty ordinary. The afternoon goes glassy, but the surf is just too small.

From Thursday through to the end of the month, it’s a tough run. The wind is a real problem, swinging onshore and getting strong. We see a bit of a bump in swell size, hitting 5ft on Saturday morning with moderate energy (211), but the wind is a messy cross-onshore at 25 mph, ruining it. By Sunday, the combined swell energy cranks up to 533 on the morning and then over 1000 in the afternoon, but the wind stays fresh and cross-onshore, so it’s all lumpy and blown out. The whole period is a write-off for a decent paddle.

The first week of September looks just as tricky. There’s a glimmer of hope on Wednesday the 2nd in the morning. The swell is a clean 4ft from the west, and the wind goes glassy with a very light breeze from the northwest. The energy is moderate (227) and the conditions look good. But it’s a short window, because the afternoon goes onshore again. That early session is the standout for the whole first week, but it’s a fleeting opportunity.

We then hit another rough patch. The wind is relentless, and the swell gets bigger, pushing 8ft on the 4th and 5th of September. That’s expert-only territory, and with the strong onshore winds, it’s just a mess. The combined energy gets up to 1098 and 910, but it’s not for paddle surfing.

Looking further ahead, the second week starts to look a bit more promising, but it’s still a long way off. Saturday the 5th of September has a cleaner 6ft swell from the west, but with a longer 11-second period. The wind is a gentle cross-shore from the north-northwest, so it’s rideable, but the report says it’s marginal. The combined energy is high (764). Then Thursday the 10th of September is another one to watch. The morning has a solid 7ft west swell with a 10-second period, and a clean cross-off wind from the northeast. The energy is strong (914). The afternoon is similar, with an 8ft swell from the west-southwest and a huge energy of 1539, still clean. This is a big swell, definitely for experts only, but the conditions are clean. Keep an eye on that one, but it’s a long way out, so the forecast could change.

So, to be blunt, the best on offer is a very short window on the morning of Wednesday the 2nd of September for a clean, glassy surf. After that, the long-range potential on Thursday the 10th of September is big and clean, but only for the experienced crew. Don’t hold your breath for the rest of it.

Rusty.

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