Fingal Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, and I’ve been staring at the charts for Fingal Bay. It’s a bit of a slow start, but the back end of this forecast has a few moments that could make it worth the wait.

The first real surfable pulse doesn't show up until Tuesday, August 11th. Before that, it’s a total write-off – tiny, weak, and messy. The combined swell energy is pitiful, barely reaching three digits (61) on Thursday the 6th. We’re talking flat spells and a lot of wind. That’s a solid five-day gap of nothing worth paddling for.

Alright, Tuesday morning the 11th sees a spike in energy, with a combined swell energy of 1002, but the conditions are marginal. The wind is cross-shore, creating a chop. The afternoon cleans up a bit with a cross-offshore breeze, dropping the swell to 6 ft from the S with a 10-second period. It’s better, but still not a standout.

Wednesday the 12th is similar, with a 5 ft Southerly swell in the morning, clean but weak at 494 energy. The afternoon gets smaller and cleaner, but it’s not lighting any fires.

The real talking point is the middle of the second week. The water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing wild there.

Now, for the standouts. If you’re a competent surfer, look at Wednesday, August 19th, and Thursday, August 20th. On Wednesday morning, the wind goes glassy, dead calm, from the N at only 3 mph. The swell is 6 ft from the ESE with a 9-second period, and the combined energy is a solid 864. The forecast says “expect very good surf conditions”. That’s the window. The waves will be a bit full and clean, perfect for a longboard or a funboard. Crowds are a possibility here, so get in early.

Thursday morning the 20th is similar, with glassy conditions again, a 6 ft ESE swell, and a combined energy of 778. It’s a bit smaller, but it’ll be just as clean. The period is 11 seconds, which is a nice groundswell, giving the waves some shape and power.

Keep in mind, the swell on the 17th, Monday, gets huge – 10 ft with 11-second periods and a combined energy over 2000. That’s expert territory, and the wind is cross-onshore, making it messy. The forecast even says it’s too big for the break. That’s more of a kite-surfing show than a paddle session.

So, to sum it up: don’t bother for the first week. The best bet is Wednesday, August 19th, and Thursday, August 20th, with glassy mornings and clean, chest-to-head-high waves. It’s a promising forecast, but a week out, keep your fingers crossed. For the rest of the time, it’s either too small, too windy, or too big.

Catch you in the water.

Rusty

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