Lyall Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty, and I’m breaking down Lyall Bay for you.

We’ve got a 16-day window that starts with some decent surf, then a long stretch of flat, blown-out junk, before a promising pulse shows up in the final week. The water temp is 53°, which is about average for the time of year.

First up, Friday morning, 17 July. There’s a 4-foot swell from the south, with a 14-second period. The wind is a clean offshore from the NNE at 15 mph, so the surf is looking really good. The combined energy is moderate (869). This is a great start, but remember, Lyall Bay is a beginner spot, it’s inconsistent, and crowds are possible.

The real standout is Saturday afternoon, 18 July. The swell jumps to 6 feet from the south, with a very long 22-second period. That’s a groundswell with serious energy (3502). The wind is a light cross-offshore from the NNW, so the waves will be clean and powerful. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers only – anything over 5 feet is pushing it for beginners. The long period means better shaped waves but longer waits. This is the best on offer.

Sunday morning, 19 July, is another beauty. The swell is a solid 5 feet from the south-southwest, with a 16-second period, and the wind is glassy from the SW at 3 mph. The energy is strong (1557). This is pure perfection for the experienced crew.

After that, things get messy. From Sunday afternoon through the end of the first week, the wind turns onshore, and the swell drops. We get a brief window on Tuesday morning, 21 July, with an offshore wind and a 7-foot south swell, but the conditions are marginal.

Then we hit a dead zone. From Wednesday, 22 July, all the way to Saturday, 25 July, the surf is small, weak, and blown out. Not worth it.

The next hope is Sunday, 26 July. The swell bumps up to 8 feet from the south, with a short 8-second period, and the wind is light and cross-off. The energy is moderate (1189). This is a big swell, but the short period means it’ll be lumpy. Only for experts, and crowds are possible.

From Monday, 27 July, it’s back to poor conditions. The wind is howling onshore. We see a few clean days around Wednesday, 29 July, but the swell is tiny – 2 to 3 feet – and the energy is weak.

The final days, from 30 July to 1 August, are a write-off. Small, weak, and onshore.

So, the call is clear: Saturday 18 July afternoon is the absolute standout – that 6-foot, 22-second groundswell with clean cross-off wind is the session to aim for. Sunday morning 19 July is a close second with glassy conditions. After that, there’s a long gap of poor surf until the big, long-range swell on Sunday 26 July, which is promising but less certain.

Rusty.

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