Oyster Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the table for the next couple of weeks.

Alright, so we’ve got one spot on the map: Oyster Bay. It’s a sandbar set-up, and the first real action kicks off on Friday the 24th of July. But hold your horses, because this isn’t just any swell. The energy is massive (8443), with a solid 13ft SSW swell rolling in, and a very long 16-second period. The water temp is sitting at 67°, which is about average for the time of year, so nothing unusual there. The wind is glassy in the morning, which is a beautiful thing, but the problem is the size. At 13ft, this is expert territory only. It’s going to be a heavy, powerful beast. If you’re a seasoned charger, Friday morning is your window, but it’s a select crowd. The afternoon sees a 12ft SSW swell, still huge, with a cross-off breeze from the east keeping it clean, but again, it’s not for the faint of heart.

Saturday the 25th drops a little, with a 8ft to 8ft SW swell. The morning is a bit cross-shore, but the afternoon cleans up nicely with a cross-off breeze. This is still solid, experienced surfer territory, and the energy is strong (2576). It’s a good option for the confident intermediate.

Sunday the 26th is the real standout of the first week. The swell drops to a very manageable 7ft to 7ft from the SW, with a 12-second period, and the wind turns offshore in the morning from the NE. That’s the kind of combo that makes a sandbar sing. The energy is still moderate (1927), but the conditions are pristine. This is the best session on offer in the early part of the forecast. Get it while it’s good.

Then the week turns ugly. Monday the 27th brings howling cross-onshore winds, and the conditions are just a total mess. That runs through the rest of the week, with strong winds and lumpy, choppy surf. There’s a brief window on Tuesday the 28th morning, but the swell is back up to 12ft with a 16-second period, which is once again too big for the break. The energy is extreme (6613), but it’s a no-go for most.

We hit a bit of a lull after that. Wednesday the 29th through to Friday the 31st of July is all marginal at best, with strong winds and messy conditions. The swell drops in size, but the wind is just too strong to make it any fun.

Now, here’s a little gem hiding in the second week. On Saturday the 1st of August, the morning is absolutely glassy – dead calm, with a 7ft ESE swell. The energy is moderate (1900), and the period is a solid 12 seconds. This is a proper window of clean, punchy waves. The crowd could be an issue here, as it’s a spot that *sometimes* gets busy, so get out early.

The rest of the first week of August is a mixed bag. Sunday the 2nd is a bit cross-onshore, but Monday the 3rd sees a return of offshore winds from the NE with a 5ft SW swell. It’s smaller, but it’s clean and rideable, and the energy is moderate (1508). That’s a good option for a more relaxed session.

The second week gets messy again from Tuesday the 4th, with strong cross-onshore winds popping up. The wind is just too strong to make the surf any good. Then on Wednesday the 5th of August, the swell jumps back up to 8ft from the SW, with a 15-second period, but the wind is cross-shore in the morning, which isn’t ideal. The afternoon is a total blowout. Thursday the 6th is just a write-off with gale-force winds.

The final real highlight is on Friday the 7th of August. The swell stays at 7ft from the SW, but the wind turns light and cross-off, keeping the faces clean. The energy is moderate (1768), and it’s a solid, surfable day. After that, Saturday the 8th of August is just a monster swell (16ft) with howling cross-onshore winds, which is a hard pass for any paddle surfer. That setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

So, to wrap it up: the best of the best is Sunday the 26th of July for a clean, offshore session, and the early morning of Saturday the 1st of August for a glassy, uncrowded paddle. The first week of August has a few good windows, but the weekend is your best bet. Keep your eyes on the forecasts; things can change.

Rusty.

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