Houghton Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the cards for Houghton Bay over the next couple of weeks. It's a bit of a mixed bag, so I'll break it down for you.

Right off the bat, the outlook is pretty average, with some clean but small conditions mid-week, and a decent pulse of swell early the following week, but it's not without its issues. Houghton Bay is a beach and reef setup, notoriously inconsistent, so we're not looking at a classic run. The best quality surf comes on the 27th of July and the 28th, and then again on the 4th of August, but both windows have their caveats.

The first few days are marginal at best. The biggest issue is the conditions. We get an onshore breeze on Monday morning, making for a bumpy 6ft south swell. The combined wave energy is hefty at 1894, but the cross-on wind is going to chop it up.

Tuesday morning on the 21st sees a big improvement in wind. It goes offshore from the north at 16 mph, cleaning up a 6ft south swell. However, the combined energy drops to 1112, and the period is a middling 14 seconds. So it's clean but not super punchy. By the arvo, the swell's fading.

Wednesday the 22nd is flat. Glassy conditions with a tiny 4ft swell... barely a bump. A good day for a paddle, not so much for a wave.

A massive gap opens up from Thursday the 23rd through to Sunday the 26th. Big winds and tiny, jumbled swell. Not worth a look. We’re talking fresh to strong breezes with next to no wave energy.

Then we get into the first real standout. Monday the 27th of July. We've got a solid 12ft south swell pumping in, with a period of 10 seconds. That's a lot of water. The combined energy is reading 3021, indicating a strong swell. The wind is offshore from the north-northwest at 9 mph, setting up clean faces. The catch? 12ft is expert territory; it's too big for beginners. This is definitely for the experienced crew. The period is on the shorter side (groundswell) at 10 seconds so it's not the cleanest, but the offshore wind should hold it together. The rating suggests excellent conditions for those who can handle it.

Tuesday the 28th is a step down, but still solid. We've got a 10ft south swell, combined energy of 1382, and a northwest cross-offshore breeze at just 6 mph. Clean, but still a big wave for most, with a period of 9 seconds meaning it's a bit more choppy.

After that, from the 29th through the 1st of August, the swell dies right back. It’s all knee-to-waist high with fresh offshore breezes. Not much to get excited about.

Then, a second pulse arrives. Sunday the 2nd of August shows a 8ft south-southwest swell with a moderate 10-second period. Combined energy 2575. The wind is cross-offshore from the north-northwest at 19 mph, so it'll be clean but blown out a touch. Still, a decent wave if you're into it.

Finally, the last good window is Tuesday the 4th of August. Another 12ft south swell, with a similar period of 11 seconds, and combined energy of 3359. Clean offshore wind from the north-northwest at 9 mph. This is another expert-only day due to the size—definitely not for the grommets.

So, to sum it up, our best bets are the 27th of July and the 4th of August, but only if you've got the skill for big, clean waves. The rest is a lot of waiting around. Keep an eye on the forecasts, because as inconsistent as this spot is, it doesn't tend to stay poor for long.

Signing off,
Rusty.

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