Jacobs Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, let's have a look at what Jacobs Bay is serving up over the next couple of weeks. The water is sitting real cold at 56°F, which is a good 4°F colder than normal, so you'll be wanting your thickest rubber.

The first few days are a total write-off. On the 31st of August we've got a 6ft WSW swell, but it's all chopped up by a cross-shore wind. The combined energy is weak to moderate (987-999), but it's just ugly. No point paddling out.

Tuesday the 1st of September is where it starts to get real. Morning has 8ft from the SW, still messy. The afternoon, though, pushes up to a solid 10ft from the SW with strong energy (3133). The report says it's too big for this spot. Jacobs Bay is a beginner-friendly break, and at this size and with a lumpy cross-shore wind, you're looking at a beating. Experts only, and even then, it'll be a handful.

That same big, powerful groundswell (13-14 second period) hangs around Wednesday the 2nd. 10ft waves and strong energy (2959-3564). It's again just too much juice for this setup, with a messy cross-shore wind.

Thursday the 3rd cleans up a bit. The swell drops to 7ft from the WSW and the wind goes cross-offshore, so the faces will be clean. The combined energy is moderate (1968), but it's a marginal day. Don't get caught out by the afternoon – it goes ballistic with a 15ft S swell and a near-gale cross-offshore wind. That's a full-blown storm, not surfable.

Friday the 4th and Saturday the 5th of September keep the waves in the 8ft to 12ft range. Clean faces from the cross-offshore wind, but for Jacobs Bay, these are just too big. The combined energy is in the strong range (1670-2177), but you'll be getting rag-dolled.

Sunday the 6th of September gives a little break. A smaller 5ft to 6ft swell from the SW with a very long period of 15-16 seconds. That's proper groundswell energy, but moderate (1214-1869). The wind is cross-offshore, so it'll be clean. It's marginal though; that long period might make it close out at a beach setup.

Now for the standout. Monday the 7th of September is the day to get excited. We've got a clean offshore wind (E, 12 mph) with a 5ft swell from the SSW and a 12-second period. The combined energy is moderate (888), but the report says "very good surf conditions." That offshore breeze will groom it perfectly. Circle this date.

The waves drop right off after that. From the 8th through the 12th, it's tiny. Tuesday the 8th has 2ft to 3ft waves with low combined energy (197-208). It's surfable on a log if you're desperate, but that's about it.

We get another fun bump on Saturday the 12th of September. A 6ft swell from the WSW with light offshore wind. The combined energy is moderate (941) and the report says "very good surf conditions." That'll be a fun, clean session for smaller craft.

Sunday the 13th of September brings the big stuff back in a hurry. 10ft from the WSW with a 12-second period. The combined energy is strong (2118-2471), but the wind goes cross to cross-on. It's lumpy and too big for this break.

The last couple of days, the 14th and 15th of September, are a sloppy end. Monday the 14th has a 6ft-8ft swell with cross-onshore wind – messy. Tuesday the 15th finishes with a 7ft SSW swell and a strong, lumpy cross-onshore wind.

The Word: If you're surfing Jacobs Bay, your best bets are Monday the 7th of September for the clean, chest-high waves, and Saturday the 12th of September for another clean session on a smaller swell. The big days on the 1st and 2nd are for the brave and the crazy. The crowds are listed as "sometimes," so you might see a few others on the good days. For the rest, it's pretty much a waiting game.

Rusty.

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