Fingal Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s be straight up – Fingal Bay’s running a long, flat spell for the next couple of weeks, and there’s not much to get excited about until the very tail end of the outlook. The first real chance of a surf doesn’t show up until the morning of Friday the 21st of August, and even then it’s barely a whisper. That leaves a solid gap of over a week with no worthwhile waves, just small, messy, wind-affected slop.

Through to the 20th of August, every day is a write-off. The swell hangs between 2 ft and 8 ft, but it’s junked out by strong cross-shore and onshore winds, mostly from the S and SE, clocking in at 12–22 mph. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing weird going on. Even when the swell gets up around 6 ft to 7 ft during the 13th to the 19th, the wind and chop ruin any chance of a decent session. The combined energy is all over the shop (128 to 949) but it’s messy energy, not the kind you want.

The only light at the end of the tunnel arrives on the morning of Friday the 21st of August, and it’s a small window. Swell drops to 2 ft from the E with a period of 8 seconds – weak, short-period stuff. Combined energy sits at just 96, which is weak. But here’s the thing: the wind swings around to a light WNW at 3 mph, giving you clean, cross-off conditions. Easy paddling out, no bump. It’s barely surfable, but if you’re desperate, you could get a couple of little knee-high runners. Not a standout by any stretch, just the only thing on offer.

The 22nd and 23rd of August see a bump up to around 4 ft from the E, still short period (9 seconds), with clean morning windows under cross-off winds from the ENE and NNE at 12–16 mph. Combined energy climbs to 256 and 239 – moderate but nothing special. It’s marginal, but if you’re a beginner or just want to get wet, Saturday morning the 22nd or Sunday morning the 23rd could give you a few fun little waves with nobody out. The wind stays offshore, so the surface will be clean.

Into the 24th of August, another pulse rolls in – 6 ft from the S, period 8 seconds, combined energy 758, so moderate energy. WNW wind at 19 mph keeps it cross-off and clean on Monday morning, but that swell direction is straight onshore for Fingal Bay. It’ll be lumpy and hard to manage. Not a day for beginners – that size and short period will be a handful.

The last worthwhile mention is Wednesday morning the 26th of August. Swell sits around 6 ft from the SSE, 8 second period, combined energy 459 – moderate. Wind is light NNW at 3 mph, offshore, so clean. This one has the best score in the whole run and points to genuinely good conditions. Still on the shorter side, so points and reefs would handle it better than the beach, but with that offshore breeze the waves should have some shape. This is the standout of the whole outlook – not huge, but clean and rideable.

Overall, a long dry spell then a couple of marginal mornings, with Wednesday the 26th of August being the pick. Don’t hold your breath for the rest.

Rusty.

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