Freshwater Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. This is Rusty, and I’m looking at what we’ve got coming up for Freshwater Bay over the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, it’s a pretty grim stretch for paddle surfing. This spot is a reef and point setup, exposed to the SW, which is the direction it wants for those clean lines. But the whole forecast period is full of tiny, weak swell and inconsistent winds. The first surf recommendation doesn’t show up until the morning of Tuesday, August 11th, so we’re looking at a solid two-week gap of nothing worth paddling out for. That’s a long dry spell, and for this area, it’s a bit of a bummer, but it happens.

The only real standout in the whole window is the morning of Tuesday, August 11th. The wind is glassy, and the swell is coming from the SW, which is the optimum direction for this break. The wave height is 3ft with a combined energy of 70 (moderate wave energy). The period is 5 seconds, which is short-period wind swell, so it’s not going to have that deep, groundswell punch. The water temperature is about average for the time of year, nothing unusual there.
The break is fairly consistent and intermediate-level, but with such a small swell, it’s really only going to be for the longboard or a funboard. There’s a chance of crowds here, as it can get busy. It’s a one-day wonder, and it’s clean, but don’t expect any power.

Before that, on Wednesday, August 12th, we get a bump in size to 6ft from the SW, with combined energy ramping up to 296 (strong wave energy), but it’s a morning session only. The wind is light and cross-shore, which is okay, but the swell is short period at 7 seconds. The conditions are described as “marginal” and with a low score, so it’s not a sure thing. It’s better than the rest of the garbage, but it’s still not a day to call in sick for.

The rest of the period is a write-off. Tiny swell, onshore or cross-shore winds, and a lot of chop. The wind gets strong from the SW on the 5th and 6th of August with 4ft to 4ft of wind swell, but it’s fresh cross-onshore and lumpy. That setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing, if you’re into that.

So, to sum it up: if you’re desperate for a surf, the morning of August 11th is your best bet. Clean and glassy, but small. The 12th morning has more size, but it’s a gamble. Otherwise, the board stays in the car.

Rusty.

Read more