Jacobs Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here with a look at what Jacobs Bay has in store for us over the next couple of weeks. We've got a mixed bag coming, with some serious power but also a fair bit of wind to deal with. Let's get into it.

First up, the water is running at 56°F – that's a solid 4°F colder than usual for this time of year, so you're gonna want a good thick steamer. It's a noticeable chill, not a freak cold snap, but still worth mentioning.

The forecast kicks off with a beast of a swell on Wednesday, August 19th. We're looking at a 10ft SW groundswell, with a period of 12 seconds and a massive combined energy of 2196. That's a lot of power. But here's the rub – it's a cross-shore wind at 19 mph, making conditions lumpy. The swell is just too big for this break, so even though there's a ton of water moving, it's not going to be good for paddling. Thursday, August 20th, is a similar story. Still a solid 10ft SW swell, but the wind is a bit better early on Thursday morning with a 12 mph SSE cross-off breeze, which should keep things cleaner. But again, that 10ft mark is pushing it for a beginner-friendly spot like this.

Friday, August 21st, the swell drops to a more manageable 6ft from the SW, but the wind is messy. A cross-shore in the morning and a cross-onshore in the afternoon make it a write-off. The combined energy is down to 1073, which is moderate, but the wind wrecks it.

Now, hold on to your hats for Saturday morning, August 22nd. This is the standout window. The swell eases to 4ft from the SSW, period is a solid 10 seconds, and the wind? Dead calm. Glassy conditions. The combined energy is a modest 586, but when it's glassy like that, every little bump counts. It's not going to be pumping, but it'll be clean, fun, and user-friendly for the beginner crew. The crowd is rated as "sometimes," so you might have some company, but on a clean morning like this, it'll be worth it. The afternoon gets choppy, so make the most of the morning.

The rest of the first week and into the next is a bit of a washout with onshore winds and messy conditions. The swell sticks around, but the quality isn't there. Fast forward to Tuesday, August 25th, and we have a promising morning. The swell is a solid 7ft from the SW, with a long 14-second period, and a light SSE cross-off breeze. The combined energy is 1767. The data says this is excellent for experienced surfers, and that's because the period is long enough to produce some real quality, but 7ft is still a fair size. The next morning, Wednesday, August 26th, is another small window of cleaner conditions with a 6ft SSW swell and a cross-off breeze from the NNE.

Then, on Thursday morning, August 27th, we get a real treat. The swell drops to 4ft from the WSW, with a 12-second period, and a 3 mph offshore wind from the east. Glassy again. The energy is low at 683, but with offshore winds on a WSW swell, the waves will be clean and lined up. This is your second standout.

The next week gets a bit wild. Saturday, August 29th, sees a massive 13ft SSW swell with a 12-second period and a combined energy of 8960 – that's serious. The wind is cross-off, so it'll be clean, but that's expert-only territory. It's too big for this break. The following Monday, September 1st, is another good one for experienced surfers: a 7ft WSW swell, 14-second period, and a light SE cross-off breeze. The energy is 1959, and the conditions are clean.

Finally, the last day of the forecast, Thursday, September 3rd, throws another monster at us. A 10ft W swell with a 14-second period, and glassy conditions. The combined energy is 3863. Clean, but again, too big for the average punter at Jacobs Bay.

So, overall, if you're looking for the best waves, set your alarm for Saturday morning, August 22nd, and Thursday morning, August 27th. They'll be small but clean and fun. For the experienced crew, Tuesday morning, August 25th, and Monday, September 1st, offer a proper challenge with quality swell. The rest of the time, it's either too big, too windy, or just plain messy.

Stay safe out there.

Rusty.

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