Lyall Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, we’ve got a bit of a wait on our hands this week. The next week or so is pretty lacklustre, with the first sniff of anything worth paddling out for not showing up until Sunday, August 2nd. After that, the surf hangs in there for a solid run, but there are a few days that just aren’t worth the hassle. Let’s break it down.

The earliest decent call is Sunday morning, August 2nd at Lyall Bay. It’s not firing, but it’s the first time we get something rideable. Swell is a clean 7ft from the south, with a moderate offshore northerly breeze keeping things tidy. The wave energy is moderate (1198), and that south swell is right on the money for this spot. It's a bit on the punchy side for beginners—over 5ft—but for the average surfer, it’s a solid go. The water temp is sitting at 55°, which is about average for this time of year. Crowds can turn up here sometimes, so you might have company.

Monday, August 3rd drops off a notch. The morning has a manageable 3ft south groundswell, with a long 13-second period. That’s clean and glassy with a light cross-offshore breeze, but the energy is low (497). It’s a better session for a longboard or a cruiser. The afternoon picks up a bit to 4ft from the SSW, but the tide might mess with it a little.

Tuesday, August 4th is a write-off. The swell is there—7ft and 8ft—but the wind is onshore or cross-onshore from the SE/SSE, and it’s going to be choppy and messy. Not worth it.

Wednesday, August 5th is poor. The swell is 6ft but with onshore wind and a cross-onshore angle. There’s no clean face to be had.

Now, the real standout of the whole forecast is Thursday morning, August 6th. This is a beauty. Swell is 3ft from the south, with a 11-second period, and the wind is dead glassy from the NNE at just 3 mph. The wave energy is low (409), but that doesn’t matter when it’s that clean. It’s a proper glass-off session, and the south swell matches the optimum direction for the break. This is your best bet for a fun, mellow paddle.

Friday, August 7th is a big one. The swell jumps to 13ft from the south in the morning, with a 10-second period, and 12ft in the afternoon. The wind is cross-shore, but that swell is way too big for Lyall Bay. It’s expert territory only, and even then, the combined wave energy is extreme (3284 and 2079). This is more of a show than a surf.

Saturday morning, August 8th is a gem. Another glassy session with a 4ft SSW groundswell, 10-second period, and dead calm wind. That is going to be clean as a whistle. The energy is moderate (706), and the direction is spot-on.

Sunday morning, August 9th is a strong option for experienced surfers. The swell is 6ft from the south, 11-second period, with a light cross-offshore breeze. The wave energy is strong (1544), and the forecast says it’s excellent for experienced surfers. It’s not a beginner wave at that size.

After that, Monday, August 10th is a nice way to finish. The morning has 4ft from the south, clean and cross-offshore. The afternoon goes glassy with a 3ft ESE swell. That’s a good little afternoon session.

From Tuesday, August 11th onward, it’s a long dry spell. The swell drops right off, wind turns onshore or cross-onshore, and the energy disappears. That gap runs through to the end of the forecast, with nothing worth mentioning.

So, to sum it up: The standout is Thursday morning, August 6th for that glassy, clean 3ft south swell. Saturday, August 8th follows close behind for another glass-off. If you’re after a bit more power, Sunday morning, August 9th is your call, but it’s for the experienced crew.

Rusty.

Read more