Duckpool Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, and I’m looking at a pretty bleak picture for the next couple of weeks at Duckpool Bay. We’ve got a solid run of poor conditions stretching from Monday all the way through to the middle of the following week. For the first nine days, the wind just won’t play ball—it’s nearly always onshore or cross-onshore, often fresh and strong, and most of the swell is choppy or lumpy. There’s a big pulse of swell early on, with combined wave energy hitting 1520 (moderate to strong energy) on Monday morning, bringing a 7 ft west swell with a long 13-second period, but with a 12 mph WNW wind on it and a “poor surf conditions” tag, it’s not for paddling. That energy drops fast, and by Wednesday the 10th, the swell’s down to just 2 ft with 8-second windswell and barely any energy (79)—just weak and messy. The water’s sitting at 66°F, which is about 5°F warmer than average for early September—unusual, but doesn’t change the surf.

After a long gap of rough conditions, we finally get a glimmer on Wednesday the 16th, in the morning. That’s your first real standout. The wind switches to a light 3 mph easterly offshore, and the swell is 3 ft from the west with an 11-second period—a proper groundswell. Combined energy is 220 (moderate), and it’s clean. For a break that’s inconsistent and exposed to the west, this is the day to be out there if you can. It won’t be huge, but it’ll be the best shape we’ve seen.

Then the real highlight comes on Sunday the 20th. On the morning, we’ve got 5 ft of west swell with a 12-second period, combined energy of 583 (moderate), and the wind is a light 6 mph ESE cross-offshore—clean as anything. By the afternoon, it goes glassy—wind is 3 mph from the north, zero chop, 5 ft, 11-second period, energy 544—that’s about as good as it gets for an inconsistent spot like this. The water is still unusually warm, but on that afternoon, the only thing that’ll spoil it is the potential for crowds—this place can get busy. It’s a small wave, clean, and perfect for intermediates.

Everything after that drops off again. The swell switches to a short-period northerly windswell on the 21st and 22nd, and despite offshore winds, the period is too short and the shape just isn’t there.

So here’s the deal: if you’re keen, aim for the 16th morning for a clean little session, but if you can hold out to the 20th, that Sunday afternoon is your true standout—glassy, clean west swell, and a moment of magic at Duckpool. The rest of the window is a write-off.

Rusty.

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