Jacobs Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, let’s have a look at what’s on offer over the next couple of weeks at Jacobs Bay. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, but there are some real high points if you’re patient.

First up, the weekend of the 21st and 22nd is a bit of a write-off, to be honest. Friday morning the 21st has a solid 6ft southwest swell at 11 seconds, but it’s a cross-off wind, and it’s only for the experienced crew at that size. The energy is moderate, around 1006. The afternoon just gets messy with a cross wind. Saturday morning the 22nd is a real tease – the swell drops to 4ft from the south-southwest, but the wind goes glassy, the water is still, and the wave energy is moderate (566). That’s a window of clean, user-friendly waves for the beginners, but it’s fleeting. The afternoon turns cross-on and choppy.

Sunday the 23rd sees the swell bump back up to 7ft and 8ft, from the west-southwest and southwest. The combined energy jumps to strong, 1748 and 2014. The morning is cross-off and clean, but that’s a fair size for a beginner. The afternoon gets a cross wind and a chop. By Monday the 24th, the wind is howling and it’s a mess with poor surf.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Tuesday morning the 25th is a standout. We’ve got a 7ft southwest swell with a long 14-second period. The energy is very strong, clocking in at 2272. The wind is a clean cross-off. That’s proper groundswell, and it’ll be wrapping in with some power. The wave state is clean. It’s a bigger day, so more for the experienced surfer, but the quality is there.

Wednesday morning the 26th is another beauty. The swell drops a touch to 6ft from the west-southwest, still a solid 13-second period, and the wind is completely glassy. Zero wind. The energy is strong at 1197. For a spot like Jacobs Bay, glassy conditions and a decent swell is as good as it gets. You’ll be sharing the lineup with a few, as it’s sometimes crowded, but on a morning like that, it’s worth it.

After that, the pattern gets a bit mixed. Thursday the 27th drops off in size, and Friday the 28th comes back up with a 6ft to 6ft west-southwest swell, but the wind is cross or cross-on, so it’s not as clean. The real showstopper is further out.

Thursday morning the 3rd of September – that’s over a week away, so keep an eye on the charts, but the models are cooking up something serious. We’re looking at a massive 15ft west-southwest swell with a 14-second period. The combined energy is 9503, which is absolutely pumping. The wind is a clean cross-off. However, the forecast clearly says the swell is too big for this break. At 15ft, that’s expert-only territory, and even then, it might be a washing machine. It’s the same story for the next few days, with 16ft on the 4th and 10ft on the 5th. The energy is off the charts, but it’s a case of too much of a good thing for Jacobs Bay.

So, the pick of the 16 days? Saturday morning the 22nd for the glassy, small waves for the learners, but the real standout is Wednesday morning the 26th for the clean, glassy conditions and a solid 6ft groundswell. That’s the one to circle. For the big wave crew, keep an eye on that 3rd of September, but it’s a long way out and it’s going to be a beast.

Rusty.

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