Fall Bay Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ at Fall Bay Reef.

Right off the bat, I’ve got to be straight with you – this 16-day run is a tough one. We’ve got a long, quiet gap from the start all the way through to the 4th of September. That’s over a week and a half of pretty much nothing worth paddling out for. The forecast shows a lot of days with tiny waves, bumpy wind, and just not enough juice.

That long stretch of nothing is the story here. It’s not until Friday the 4th of September that we finally see some serious size, but even then, it comes with a heavy caveat.

### The One Window Worth Watching: Friday, September 4th

The only real standout in this whole outlook is Friday the 4th of September. We’ve got a solid pulse of swell arriving, with heights around 7ft to 8ft from the WSW. The combined energy hits 1067 in the morning and 659 in the afternoon (strong wave energy). The period hangs around 9 seconds, so it’s a decent wind swell, offering some push.

This is expert territory, though. At 8ft, it’s too big for beginners, and even for the average surfer, it’ll be a handful. The wind also plays a big role. The morning is a gentle cross-shore, but by the afternoon it’s a light breeze going cross, so the shape should be okay. The reef can handle that size and direction, but keep your wits about you, because it’s an inconsistent break here at Fall Bay Reef—it doesn’t always fire, so when it does, it’s notable.

Crowds? Fall Bay Reef can get crowded often when there’s a wave, so expect company.

For the rest of the period, there’s a bit of activity around the 29th and 30th of August, but the wind is onshore or cross-on with fresh breezes, making for lumpy, choppy, messy conditions. Not your best bet. There’s also a massive swell on the 7th of September—10ft to 12ft from the WSW with very strong energy (1629 to 2494), but it’s accompanied by near-gale force winds. That setup looks far more interesting for kite surfing than for paddle surfing. The reef will be a washing machine.

Water temperature is about average for the time of year. For Fall Bay Reef, the water is sitting around 68°F on the 23rd of August, which is much warmer than normal—that’s a bonus for the few of us who brave the flat spells.

So, to wrap it up: save your energy for Friday the 4th of September. It’s the only window with real punch, but it’s not for the faint-hearted.

Rusty.

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